Major Festivals of Nepal in 2024

In Nepal, there are as many festivals as there are days in a 12 months. Being blessed with the standard of being one of the culturally numerous nations, somebody someplace is celebrating a festivity on any given day. Whereas the numerous nuances of Himalayan beliefs, rituals and festivals so huge that there are whole libraries devoted to the only real matter, here’s a fast information to among the most generally celebrated festivals in Nepal.

October 3 – October 12, Dashain 

A child after receiving blessings from elders on the Tika day of Dashain. Image Courtesy of Subir Thapa (Fb)

Dashain is an important competition to most Hindu Nepalis. It’s a celebration of fine prevailing over evil with its roots stemming from myths within the Ramayan scriptures. Most households supply male goats, geese, chickens, eggs and coconuts to the goddess Durga. Folks return to their house villages and spend the fifteen-day competition with their households. Massive swings are arrange for youngsters, and from the tenth day, members of the family obtain Tika (rice, crimson vermillion and yoghurt) on their foreheads from their elders.

November 1-Third, Tihar

Ladies singing and dancing at Deusi in Tihar. Image courtesy of Bhas Na Veen (Fb)

Tihar is Nepal’s second most vital competition, after Dashain. In every of the three days, a special deity is worshipped: on the primary day the crow, the messenger of Yama (the bringer of demise); on the second, canine, that 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 homes with oil lamps, candles and colourful lights. With out query, Tihar is among the most dazzling festivals of Nepal.

November seventh, Chhath

Devotees providing prayers to the Solar on Chhath Competition.

Chhath is an important competition noticed within the Terai area and falls on the seventh day after Tihar. Devotees quick and make choices to the solar by gathering at river banks. The Terai area is the most effective place to look at this competition or the Rani Pokhari tank in central Kathmandu.

February tenth, Lhosar

Lhosar is widely known by Nepalese ethnic teams who hint their historical past to Tibet, particularly the Gurung, Tamang and Sherpa folks. Lhosar is the primary day of the brand new 12 months, and every neighborhood celebrates the competition otherwise. Conventional gown is worn by younger and outdated, and festivities held in cities and extra distant areas.

February 14th, Basanta Panchami

Devotees worship goddess Saraswati, the goddess of information and creator of arts, training and music. Basanta Panchami additionally marks the tip of winter and the start of spring.

March eighth, Maha Shivaratri

‘Shivaratri’ means the ‘evening of Lord Shiva’. Religious Hindus bathe early within the morning and quick on today, then go to Shiva temples. The very best place to witness the competition is on the Pashupatinath temple of Kathmandu, the place 1000’s of Sadhus (Hindu holy males) and smoke marijuana and cannabis, thought-about expensive to Lord Shiva. Folks additionally drink Bhang, a drink made by mixing floor nuts, spices, herbs and extracts of marijuana into milk. One might actually say that Maha Shivaratri is among the extra fascinating festivals of Nepal.

March twenty fifth, Holi

Holi; The Competition of Colors

Holi is a really vibrant and playful competition. It’s celebrated within the Terai on in the future, and in Kathmandu and the hill areas on the following day. Folks smear colored powders on their pals, family and members of the family, and throw colored water and water balloons. It’s vital to not take any valuables out with you on today except they’re sealed in a plastic bag!

April eighth, Ghode Jatra

Godhe Jatra. Image courtesy of StreetNepal

Ghode Jatra is vital within the Kathmandu Valley and is widely known to keep off demonic Gurumapa. It’s stated the soul of the demon nonetheless lives underground at Tundikhel. To forestall him from rising once more, a horse race is organised on today by the Nepal Military.

April thirteenth, Nepali New 12 months (Bisket Jatra)

Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur

It is a main vacation in Nepal. A very energetic place to spend the day is Bhaktapur, the place the Bisket Jatra competition takes place. An enormous chariot carrying the god Bhairab is pulled by the streets, ending with a chariot battle at Bhaktapur’s Khalna Tole.

On today, youngsters (together with grownup youngsters!) supply sweets, fruits and presents to their moms to indicate their respect and gratitude. These whose moms have handed away go to Mata Tirtha within the west of Kathmandu, take a holy tub and make choices of their mom’s reminiscence.

Finish of April, Rato Machchhendranath

The Chariot of Rato Machindranath

That is Nepal’s longest and largest competition, held in Patan. A big chariot is constructed on Pulchowk Highway over a number of weeks, and at last, the god Machchhendranath is positioned inside. Three days later, the chariot begins its procession all all through Patan and wider Lalitpur, in direction of Bungamati. Machchhendranath is the Newar god of rain, and the competition ushers within the monsoon. Because the competition follows the lunar calendar, the exact date is commonly recognized additional into the 12 months, howeve, it often happens in the course of the second half of April.

Could fifteenth, Buddha Jayanti 

Buddhist Devotees Celebrating Buddha Jayanti in Boudhanath.

Buddha’s birthday falls on the primary full day of the primary month of the Hindu lunar calendar and is widely known by Hindus in addition to Buddhists. It’s noticed at Buddhist shrines and monasteries all through Nepal, however a very grand ceremony is held at Buddha’s birthplace in Lumbini, on the Terai. In Kathmandu, the Tibetan enclave of Boudhanath is a very good place to look at the festivities.

August ninth, Naag Panchami

Naag Panchami falls in the course of the monsoon. It’s a Hindu competition that worships the serpent god, Naag. Photos of Naag are posted in doorways, and milk is obtainable to him. It’s believed that worshipping Naag protects towards snake bites. This competition marks respect to serpents because the water guardians, and to make sure common rainfall within the Kathmandu Valley.

August nineteenth, Janai Purnima 

Image Courtesy of Prateek Gurung

Janai Purnima is Sacred Thread Competition. On today, Hindu males, particularly the Brahmins and Chettris carry out their annual change of Janai and all who celebrates this competition put a sacred thread round their wrist. Gosaikunda, the sacred pond in excessive altitude, witnesses the nice celebration on today.

August twentieth, Gai Jatra 

The competition’s title is Gai Jatra (actually which means the competition of cows) and these days it’s a fusion of three traditions that got here into being in three completely different durations of time. The primary and the oldest custom incorporates a cult and a worship of the traditional god of demise – Yamaraj. Thus, the competition marks the acceptance and celebration of demise in a optimistic approach, as an inevitable a part of life. Each household who has misplaced a member, within the earlier 12 months, is meant to guide a rigorously and intricately embellished cow by the town. Within the absence of a cow, a boy dressed as a cow (the oldest for a misplaced male member and the youngest for a female relative) can efficiently tackle the position.

This competition of Nepal is considerably akin to the Mexican Day of the Lifeless celebrations.

August twenty sixth, Krishna Janmastami

Krishna Janmastami marks the beginning of Krishna. Thought of the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Krishna is an important character within the Hindu epic, the Mahabharat. On today Hindu devotees go to Krishna temples. Particularly, 1000’s of devotees collect on the stone Krishna Mandir in Patan Durbar Sq..

September sixth, Teej 

Among the many many festivals on Nepal, Teej is one celebrated solely by Nepali girls. On today girls have a good time wishing for the lengthy lifetime of her husband and an extended and agency relationship between them till the demise this life and all of the lives to return. Teej is noticed for marital happiness, the well-being of partner and kids and purification of personal physique and soul. Teej is probably the most well-known competition amongst Nepali girls.

September 4th, Rishi Panchami 

Rishi Panchami is a competition that’s celebrated instantly after Teej Puja. Hindu girls connect undue significance to this competition of Rishi Panchami as a result of they imagine that by observing Rishi
Panchmi quick and by paying homage to Rishis (Saints) on today of the competition, they are going to be blessed and forgiven for all their sins that they’re sure to commit throughout their menstrual cycle by not following the strictures laid down for them by their faith.

Notice:
Hartalika Teej and Rishi Panchami are solely noticed by girls. Ghode Jatra, Gai Jatra and Indra Jatra are solely noticed within the Kathmandu valley. Some dates of the festivals are topic to vary. In such instances, we will likely be updating the competition dates.

Impressed? In case you are fascinated about our competition excursions, take a look at what Royal Mountain Journey also can supply:

Mustang Tiji Competition

Haritalika Teej & Rishi Panchami Competition Tour

Janai Purnima and Gai Jatra Competition Tour

Bijaya Dashami Competition (Dashain) Tour

Bisket Jatra Competition Tour

Ram Navami Competition in Janakpur Tour

For extra details about festivals in Nepal, take a look at Inside Himalayas: Fashionable Cultural Festivals  in Nepal You Can’t Miss