Nepal, country of vibrant and colorful festivals.
Nepal is not only a land of high peaks and mountains, winding roads, and diverse wildlife; it is also a land of culture, religion, and different races. Nepal is one of those countries which has the highest number of festivals. With the largest number of different racial and ethnic groups, there are festivals every week. It begins with the Nepalese new year, then Nepalese Mother's Day on "Baishakh," the Nepalese calendar, and concludes with "chaite dashian" on "Chaitra," the new year eve. During the whole year, there are major and minor festivals which carry their own values, traditions, rituals, and culture according to ethnic groups. Here are some major festivals you can enjoy in Nepal:
Dashain
This is the biggest and longest festival in Nepal, especially for Hind people. This is the most widely celebrated festival in the Nepali diaspora around the world. This 15-day long festival starts with "Ghatasthapan". On this day, people plant different kinds of seeds in the dark places inside their homes. These plants are known as "Jamara". Even though it is a 15-day long festival, only three or four days are celebrated according to the calendar. On the 7th day, known as "Fulpati", people take auspicious leaves and plants inside their home at the evening time. On the 8th day, it is known as "Astami". People kill animals to worship and eat them. On this 9th day, it is known as "Nwamani". On this day, people worship every item made of iron and kill 10,000 animals to sacrifice. On the 10th day, there is an auspicious time for Tika. And people apply tika and jamaara to their foreheads in order to receive blessings from the elders. Taking blessing from the elders and relatives continues till "Kojatgrat Purnima", the last day of the festival. On the last day, people throw jamara outside their homes. The reason for celebrating Dashain is related to mythological and religious aspects of the Hindu people. On this day, Goddess Durga assumed the 9th form of Durga to conquer evil for the sake of goodness.
Tihar
This is the second biggest and most celebrated festival in Nepal, which is also known as the "festival of light." This festival is known as the most animal-friendly festival in the world. On this festival, Hindu people worship different kinds of birds and animals. These animals carry their own significant value in the Hindu religion. This five-day long festival starts with "Kaag Puja". On this day, people worship crows. In Nepal, the crow is known as the god of death's messenger. On the second day, people worship a dog known as "kukur Puja", the most friendly animal, who takes care of the home and people. On the third day, people worship goddess Laxmi and a cow, known as "Laxmi Puja".
In particular, people worship cows in the morning or day, then the main puja begins. People begin cleaning their homes in preparation for the arrival of the goddess Laxmi. Goddess Laxmi is known as the God of wealth. People start by lighting candles, making diya, and creating "rangoli," then performing puja and welcoming Laxmi into their homes by making the way with "Rato Mato." On this day, women play "vaili", going to people's homes. The house owner gives money, fruits, and "sel roti". On the fourth day, people worship an ox known as "Goru Puja." On this day, people light their houses with candles and diyas as well. On this day, people play "deusi", especially boys, like girls playing vaili. And the fifth day is known as "bhai Tika". This day is for brothers and sisters, where girls keep fasting to put tika on their brothers' foreheads. There are seven different colors for tika and "Makhali ful mala." Girls give masala and different kinds of fruits, sweets, and clothes. In return, boys touch the feet of their sister and give lots of money and gifts. The reason for celebrating Bhai tika is the sister protecting her brother from the death of God "Yamaraj" with different conditions. The reason for wearing "makamali ful mala" is that it takes lots of time to dry. Before taking her brother, the sister set conditions with Yamaraj. Yamarj can take only her brother after this flower gets dry. There are other conditions as well to save her brother from Yamaraj.
Teej
This major festival is celebrated by Hindu women in Nepal. The reasons for celebrating this festival are that unmarried girls want a husband like "God Shiva" and married women celebrate this festival for the prosperity and long life of their husband. On this day, women fast the whole day, even without drinking water. Women go to the major temples of Shiva Ji to worship according to their locality. They sing and dance after completing the puja. At the end, after completing puja, they worship their husband and drink water, washing their husband's feet. This is how fasting ends. They eat complete vegetables and light food after ending fasting. The best thing about this festival is that all women of every age can celebrate it.
Holi
This is known as the "festival of colors and water." It is a widely celebrated festival among youths, especially. Various organizers, clubs, hotels organize events and concerts on this day, or you can go to Basantapur and Thamel. Millions of people came to this area to celebrate Holi. The reason for celebrating this festival has a mythological connection. This festival represents victory over evil. As per legend, a young boy named Prahalad was a devotee of Lord Bishnu, whom his father, the demon king Mahisasur, considered a mortal enemy. Filled with rage, the demon king ordered his sister Holika, who was blessed with fire immunity, to kill his own son. After that, Holika, who sat on fire holding Prahalad, but she was the one who perished in the flames while the boy lived. This festival has become a phenomenon among tourists as well.
Shiva Ratri
Another major festival connected with Lord Shiva is on this day. People come to Pasupatinath Temple (the biggest and holiest shrine for Hindus) from around the world. Millions of devotees from a week ago came to Nepal for this day. For Hindu people, this day starts with an early morning bath. Women stay fasting the whole day, and men start to make different kinds of drinks and foods mixed with marijuana and other herbs. This drink makes you hallucinate. People worship and receive blessings from naked Sadhu Babas, who can be seen everywhere. In the evening, people burn wood at the junction of different places, drink, sing, and dance. This festival marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. This festival has become a major tourist attraction in Nepal due to marijuana and hashish. People openly smoke these things on this day, even though these herbs are illegal in Nepal. But one thing tourists should know is that "except Hindus, nobody can enter the main temple". Tourists can visit the surroundings of this temple.
Indrajatra
Indrajatra is one of the major festivals of the Newari community who live in Kathmandu. This festival is based on ethnic groups and is celebrated by only those ethnic groups. There is no national holiday for this festival except in Kathmandu. On the last day, people gather in Basantapur to celebrate this festival of the living goddess of Nepal known as "Kumari". Every high-level person from the Nepalese government is invited on this day, from the president to the mayor of Kathmandu. People pull chariots of gods and goddesses on different streets of Kathmandu. The main chariot is pulled around Kathmandu with Kumari, and people gather to take a glimpse of Kumari. Even the Nepalese government provides funds for this festival. The major attractions of this festival are food and local wine, which you can enjoy as much as you want.
