Festivals of Nepal
Janai
Purnima
In
Janai Purnima mainly this festival is for the Brahmins. They are
also given respect by other casts and also known as high casts.
On the day the renewal of Janai takes place. On that day they
have a bath in the morning and change their Janai. Many people
prefer to go at Pasupatinath, where they have bath at Bagmati
River. On this very day all people also tie a Janai on their
wrists. It is also believed that they shouldn’t take off until
Gai Tihar, which is in Tihar. There is a belief that we should
tie that Janai on the tail of a cow on Gai Tihar.
On
this day men also tie the Rakhi from their sisters. It is also
called Rakchya Bandhan. It is believed that girls tie the Rakhi
for protecting their brothers from difficulties they have to
face. All and all they pray for long life for their brothers. In
Newar religion they also have kwati (meal of different kinds of
beans, peas, cerals etc) at the day.
Gai Jatra
Normally as we
look in recent time Gai Jatra is celebrated as the matter of
entertainment. Although
, it has a big part in our culture and in the society. In this
day we can find people enjoying in funny dresses, unknowing
faces trying to get most of Gai Jatra. People disguise
themselves into comic side of it and entertain the crowd. As we
explore into the festival it has a lot to say and some people
might not know about it.
On
this day the homage is paid to the people who have died during
the year. The relatives of the person who had died ,tributes him
by dressing an decorating a cow in his name. Or either
they disguise a young boy in the family into a priest and roam
around the town. It is also believed that the door of justice is
open once in the year and that day is Gai Jatra. Door of justice
means the door of the kingdom of dead people where Yamaraj
presides over their self-judgment.
It is also
believed that it is difficult to reach at the Yamalok (the
kingdom of Yamaraj). Therefore people disguise the dead person
into a cow which helps to reach at the destiny. It is also said
that a cow helps Chitragupta to make the right justice. The
people who disguise themselves into priest or the decorated cow
roam around the town. The most spectacular view can be found in
Bhaktapur or Bhadgaon. Lots of foreigners prefer it there.
In Bhaktapur the festival is celebrated with lots of fun and
enjoyment. Actually Gai Jatra is to be celebrated for seven
days. In Bhaktapur people enjoy it for seven days.
The main day is
after next day of Janai Purnima. The main celebration takes
place on that day. Then the other six days they celebrate by
some programs, plays, and much more. The festival is ended on
Krishna Asthami. Why Krishna Asthami ? Krishna Asthami is the
day when Lord Krishna borned. As we know he killed all the
demons . In Bhaktapur they also have Lakhe Nach (demon dance).
So they stop the festival on Krishna Asthami.
<<
Back to main page
