| Month |
Festival |
Description |
| October / November |
Dashain |
The largest and most cherished festival of all.
More |
| November / December |
Tihar |
Second largest festival for brothers and sisters.
More |
| January |
Sweta Machhendranath Snan |
The Sweta (white) Machhendranath has a week long festival in
which he is bathed, oiled and painted. The goddess Kumari visits
him at this elaborate temple near Asan Tol. This god is pleased
by music, offerings and attentions to hope for a rainfall in the
planting season. |
| January |
Maghe Sankranti |
This festival is celebrated to worship the god Vishnu
who is thanked for his efforts in making the days longer and
warmer from the Magh month of the Nepali Calendar. Devotees take
bath in holy rivers, eat pulaow (rice cooked with lentils, dried
fruits and peas). This festival is observed on the first
day of Magh Month. |
| January |
Basanta Panchami and Saraswati Puja |
The Goddess of education, Saraswati is worshiped through
the country. Students join with teachers others for puja
in their school, others visit the temples and religious sites. |
| January - February |
Swasthani |
The goddess Swasthani regarded as the ultimate gift grantor
is worshiped on this festival. According to the legend, Parbati
got Lord Shiva as her husband only after worshiping Swasthani.
In every home |
| February |
Maha Shivaratri |
The Pashupati temple, in other words, the Lord Shiva's
temple is remains packed with devotees for 2 to 3 days before
the festival. On the day, one will find almost impossible to
visit the Pashupati temple which remains jammed literally! The
day is observed by visiting Pashupati temple, drinking and
dancing. Sadhus - the replica of Lord Shiva enjoy the day by
smoking cigars and sweets. |
| February |
Losar |
The festival of Sherpas and Tibetan who welcome the near
year by celebrating this festival in which one can see feats,
family visits, songs and dance in monasteries and colorful
prayer flags decorating streets and rooftops. |
| March |
Fagu Purnima or Holi |
Call it ugly or awesome, this is the festival of
colors. If you are new to this festival, you will like it more!! Hide your clothes when walking on the streets! what?
The festival is of just a single day but the fever starts 7
days ahead. Its all about splashing others with water and
color. Color powder is often mixed with water and is filled in
balloons which are then thrown at anyone for a good
splash. Youth enjoy the final day of the festival as portraying
one's chests and face fully covered or painted with different
colors. |
| April |
Chaitra Dashian |
Celebrated to observe the Lord Ram's victory over Rawan.
Devotees visit the RAM and Durga temples to perform puja. |
| April |
Ghode Jatra |
A great jatra (gatherings) takes place to please the demon
who is believed to be buried under the soil of Tundikhel. The
jatra is purely an stunt of show-jumping, motorcycling, horse
riding, gymnastics and sky diving all performed by the
Nepalese Army. |
| April |
Biska Jatra |
Communities at Bhaktapur and its surroundings replay a drama
passed on generations to another. The drama is about scarifies
and pleasing goods. |
| May |
Rato Machhendranath Jatra |
Rato (Red) Macchindranath is a rain god. In ancient times,
the Kathmandu valley was a land of agriculture. This festival of
gatherings (jatra) is dedicated to the god for hope for rains
during the monsoon season. |
| May |
Buddha Jayanti |
Lumbini, a piece of land is truly a gifted land by nature.
It is where the lord Buddha was born. On a full moon day, the
may 6th, the Lord's birth, enlightenment and salvation are
celebrated through the Nepal. Swayambhu and Boudhanath stupas
receive huge visitors during this festival. |
| July - August |
Gunla |
The time when monsoon has arrived and the rice have been
planted, it is time for Buddhists to observe this festival. This
is an ancient festival initiated 25 century ago by the Buddha.
During this one month festival, prayers, fasting and medications
and religious music takes its turn. |
| August |
Janai Purnima and Raksha Bandhan |
Its the Hindus and Buddhists time to change a sacred thread
(Janai) which is tied on the neck sliding from the right to left
hands, and it is also the time to tie Raksha, a red or yellow
thread (believed to have the power to protect) around wrists. |
| August |
Gai Jatra |
To most Nepalese, it is like April fools day. This festive
season is also a time to remember your lost ones and also to
ease the pain. The word Gai means cow in English. Cow is the
goddess of wealth and is regarded as the souls of the departed
to the gates of the netherworld. Sharing of sorrow and to
taking the comfort in knowing that their lost ones are safe is
the true reason of celebrating this festival.
Satire, jokes and cartoons are published on newspapers and
magazines. These such jokes are mostly describing the political
situation of the country for the last year. Press and media feel
like writing just about anytihg on this day, for its a jokes
day! |
| September |
Teej |
A festival purely for women to perform puja, workshop lord
Shiva, and go into fasting for a day to ask for husband's long
time and strong bond of love. Women wear red saris, sing and
dance in Pashupati temple or anywhere in the junctions. The
blessings of Shiva and the Lord's wife, Goddess Parbati ensure
that family life strengthens and is joyous. |
| September |
Indra Jatra |
Right after the monsoon, this festival is celebrated to
thank the gods for giving enough rains to the Kathmandu valley.
A great celebration and jatra takes place in the Kathmandu
durbar square. |
| October-November |
Mani Rimdu |
It is a a five days festival celebrated by the Sherpa in the
Everest region. The celebration consists songs, masked dances
and prayers. The gathering is for "the good of the world".
Trips to the Everest during this festive season are very
rewarding. |
| December |
Bibah Panchami |
This is the festival that observes the marriage of Lord Ram
and Sita. Festival lasts for up to 7 days, during which
enactment of the marriage ceremony of Ram and Sita are performed
in stage in villages, towns and city areas. Ram, the hero and
Sita are the heroine of Ramayan, the most popular Hindu
epic ever. |
