Mani Rimdu
This typical Sherpa festival is celebrated exclusively in
the Lamaist monasteries of the Mt. Everest region. It is held in
the month of May, mostly on full moon day at the Thame monastery
in he Khumbu region, near Namche Bazaar at an altitude of
13,123feet (4000m). A very spectacular masked dance drama played
for three full days is the main outdoor highlight of the
festival.
Ghantakarna
Sravan-(July-August)
Taking place towards the end of the Nepalese month of
Sravan, this festivals celebrates the exorcism of a mythical
demon, Ghantakarna, who, according to legend, was greatly
feared throughout the Katmandu Valley. The festival is
celebrated by acting out the legendary drama in the streets. To
begin with, children of each Katmandu Neighborhood collect money
from passersby which is then used to make an effigy of the demon
god. While this effigy remains in the center of a rough
tent-like structure erected from bamboo poles, one man
impersonates Ghantakarna by smearing himself with white
paint and roaming the local area collecting donations in a
begging bowl. Surrounded by the crowds of small children, the
group then returns to the effigy and proceeds to take it to the
river for burning, thus marking the victory of the local
inhabitants over the demon god.
Gai Jatra
Bhadra-(August-September)
According to tradition dating back since time immemorial,
every family who has lost one relative during the past year must
participate in a procession through, the streets of Katmandu
leading a cow. If a cow is unavailable then a young boy dressed
up as a cow is considered to be a fair substitute. It is
believed that the symbol of a cow, revered as a holy animal by
all devout Hindus, will assist the deceased relative's
heavenward journey. Later in the Afternoon, nearly everyone
takes part in another age-old tradition in which all
participants dress up and wear masks; jokes, mockery and humor
of every kind become the order of the day until the late
evening.
Krishnaashtami
Krishnashtami
or the birthday of Lord Krishna, is
celebrated in commemoration of the hero of the Hindu epic,
Mahabharata. On this day, worshippers carry ornate and
decorated idols and pictures of Lord Krishna through the
streets, often with bands of musicians following or preceding
the procession. In Patan, thousands of devout flock to Krishna
temple to worship and receive blessings.
Indrajatra
The festival is celebrated by both the Hindus and
Buddhists with great enthusiasm. The festival continues for
eight days during which time there is much rejoicing, dancing
and feasting. On the first day, along wooden pole is erected in
front of the ancient Royal Palace at Hunuman Dhoka, in order to
propitiate Indra, the god of rain. Classical dancers also
assemble at the spot wearing different kinds of masks and
dancing around the courtyard of Hanuman Dhoka to celebrate
Indra's visit. On the third day of the festival, the Living
Goddess or "Kumari" is taken out in a procession in a
chariot. Three chariots of Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairav are taken
round the city for three days. The King also pays homage to the
Kumari during this time. The festival's many other interesting
dances including the Mahakali, Mahalaxmi, and Dasha
Avatara masked dances, are staged on the plinth of Narayan
temple, just opposite the Kumari temple. On the last evening of
the festival, the long wooden pole erected on the first day is
lowered amid religious ceremonies and animal sacrifices.
Teej
This is a Hindu married woman’s day for
her man. This festival is celebrated in August/September. Women
clad in beautiful red saris with shining potes (glass beads),
singing and dancing is the sight almost everywhere in Nepal
during the festival of Teej. On this day women observe a fast
and pray Lord Shiva for the long, healthy and prosperous life of
their husbands and their families. The unmarried women also
observe this festival with unabated zeal with the hope that they
will get to marry good husbands. From early dawn, women queue up
in the multiple lines in Pashupatinath to offer their prayers to
Lord Shiva. |
Mani Rimdu
Gai jatra
Krishna temple
Indrajatra
Teej |
Ashwin-(September-October)
Dashain
Dashain is Nepal's most important and lavishly celebrated
festival. The first day of the festival is known as
Ghatasthapana-the placing of the sacred vessel. According to
the tradition, all devout Hindus should take an early morning
bath in the holy river and return carrying some sand from the
riverbed. At the same time, a small clay pot is filled with
water from the same river and placed by the sand. Barely seeds
are planted in this pot and nurtured for nine days. As with
other Nepalese festivals, this ritual has also a specific
meaning. In this case, the river water represents the mother
goddess Durga, who according to legend, crushed many powerful
demon hordes in an epic battle. For the next nine days, devouts,
go to different prescribed sites for early morning bathes.
The next major even occurs on the 7th day of the festival when
the sacred flowers and leaves are brought from the old palace of
Kind Prithvi Narayan Shah at Gorkha. When the flowers reach
Katmandu, there is a large procession to Hanuman Dhoka gate
where brass bands are waiting to celebrate the occasion. At the
same time, guns and cannons are fired at Tundikhel parade
ground.
The eighth day of the festival is known as Mahashtami and
is marked by a fast by all orthodox Hindus. In the morning,
animal sacrifices are carried out at temples dedicated to
Goddess Durga.
On the 9th day, all temples dedicated to Durga are bathed in
sacrificial blood. On this day, even vehicles and other
mechanical items are worshipped and sacrificed so as to prevent
accidents during the coming year. Similarly, all instruments,
weapons and implements of all professions are worshipped in the
hope that Durga will bless their usefulness and accuracy. In the
evening, there is an elaborate sacrifice at the Taleju temple
near Hanuman Dhoka.
The peak of Dashain celebration is reached on the tenth day
known as Vijaya Dashami, or the Day of Victory. On this
day, all the Hindus are supposed to visit their elders or
superior relatives, starting with their parents. The main
purpose of this visit is to receive tika and shoots of
the barley known as jamara. Tika is a red dot or
smear placed on the visitor's forehead by the senior relative.
Also frequently used in other festivals and even in daily
worship, the tika consists of vermilion powder, rice and
curd. As all visits cannot be completed in one day, they
continue until the end of the festival.
Kartik-(October-November)
Tihar
After Dashain, Tihar is probably Nepal's second most
important festival. The first day of the festival is crow's day.
In the early morning, worshippers bathe either in the Bagmati or
some other river. After this the devouts light a small lamp made
of cotton wool and mustard oil, and placed in a leaf pot. Then
the first portion of every family meal is offered to the crows.
The second day is known as the dog's day. On this occasion dogs
are given a red tika on their foreheads and garlanded
with flowers. They are then worshipped and offered large plates
of food, including many delicacies.
The next day is the cow's day and these animals are also
worshipped in the similar fashion. This day is even more
important day, as Laxmi Puja, or the day for worshipping
Laxmi the goddess of wealth also falls on this day. Towards the
evening, small candles or wick lamps are lighted and placed
outside the main door and along windowsills. This becomes a very
beautiful spectacle as the whole city, town and village become
filled with little lights.
The fourth day of Tihar is "self day" or "self worship."
As the name implies, this ritual aims to felicitate the sprit
dwelling in one's own body.
Brother's day or Bhai Tika is the fifth and last day of
Tihar. On this day, every sister worships her brothers by
placing a multicolored tika on their foreheads and offering her
blessings. The brothers then in turn give tika to their
sisters after which gifts are also exchanged. As with many other
festivals, Tihar ends with a grand feast with all family members
present. |
Goddess Durga
Jamara, Tika
Bhai Tika |