Royal Mountain Travel Magazine Inside Himalayas Issue 5 | Page 52

INSIDE HIMALAYAS | NEPAL | TIBET | BHUTAN INSIDE HIMALAYAS | NEPAL | TIBET | BHUTAN Major Festivals of Nepal 2017-18 AUGUST 15 2017 SEPTEMBER 16 2017 OCTOBER 19 2017 OCTOBER 21 2017 52 TIHAR Tihar is Nepal’s second most important festival, after Dashain. On each of the three days a different deity is worshipped: on the first day the crow, the messenger of Yama (the bringer of death); on the second, dogs, which are believed to be Yama’s custodian; and on the third, the goddess Lakshmi is worshipped, the bringer of wealth. Lakshmi is worshipped by lighting houses with oil lamps, candles and colourful lights. www.insidehimalayas.com | By Royal Mountain Travel 29 2017 KRISHNA JANMASTAMI Krishna Janmastami marks the birth of Krishna. Considered the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Krishna is the most important character in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharat. On this day Hindu devotees visit Krishna temples. In particular, thousands of devotees gather at the stone Krishna Mandir in Patan Durbar Square. INDRA JATRA Indra Jatra is the most important festival of Kathmandu city, associated with Hindu God Indra, the king of heaven. The festival lasts for three days, with a chariot procession of the deities Ganesh, Bhairav and the Kumari (the living goddess). It starts in Kumari House at Basantapur Durbar Square in Kathmandu, and travels around the old parts of Kathmandu. DECEMBER SEPTEMBER 20 2017 OCTOBER 4 2017 OCTOBER 25 2017 DASHAIN Dashain is the most important festival to Nepalis. It is a celebration of good prevailing over evil. Most families offer male goats, ducks, chickens, eggs and coconuts to the goddess Durga. People return to their home villages and spend the fifteen-day festival with their families. Large swings are set up for children, and from the tenth day, family members receive Tika (rice, red vermillion and yoghurt) on their foreheads from their elders. CHHATH Chhath is the most important festival observed in the Terai region, and falls on the seventh day after Tihar. Devotees fast and make offerings to the sun by gathering at riverbanks. The Terai region is the best place to observe this festival, or the Rani Pokhari tank in central Kathmandu. LHOSAR Lhosar is celebrated by Nepali ethnic groups who trace their history to Tibet, namely the Gurung, Tamang and Sherpa people. Lhosar is the first day of the new year, and each community celebrates the festival differently. Traditional dress is worn by young and old, and festivities held in cities and more remote regions. MAGHE SANKRANTI Maghe Sankranti is celebrated by Hindus, and symbolises a farewell to the cold winter nights. Devotees eat ghee, yams and sweets made from molasses, and clean their houses thoroughly. It ushers in the warmer spring season.. JANUARY 15 2018 FEBRUARY JANUARY 22 2018 MARCH 01 2018 BASANTA PANCHAMI On this day, devotees worship goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and creator of arts, education and music. Basanta Panchami also marks the end of winter and beginning of spring. HOLI Holi is a very colourful and playful festival. It is celebrated in the Terai on one day, and in Kathmandu and the hill regions on the next day. People smear coloured powders on their friends, relatives and family members, and throw coloured water and water balloons. It’s important not to take any valuables out with you on this day, unless they are sealed in a plastic bag! 13 2018 MARCH 17 2018 Maha Shivaratri ‘Shivaratri’ means the ‘night of Lord Shiva’. Devout Hindus bathe early in the morning and fast on this day. They visit Shiva temples. The best place to witness the festival is at the Pashupatinath temple of Kathmandu, where thousands of Sadhus (Hindu holy men) gather and smoke marijuana and hashish, considered dear to Lord Shiva. People also drink Bhang, a drink made by mixing ground nuts, spices, herbs and extracts of marijuana into milk. GHODE JATRA Ghode Jatra is important to the Kathmandu Valley, and is celebrated to ward off demon Gurumapa. It is said the soul of the demon still lives underground at Tundikhel. To prevent him from rising again, a horse race is organised on this day by the Nepal Army. www.insidehimalayas.com | By Royal Mountain Travel 53