Festivals

We, the people of Nepal are rich in our festivals. The best part about the festivals in Nepal is that all the events are celebrated with the same enthusiasm. People gather to celebrate different festivals according to their caste, religion, and culture. The disputes and conflicts among each other are forgotten during the festivals. There are different types of festivals celebrated all over the world. Most of the festivals are celebrated in the name of god and goddess. The different festivals celebrated in Nepal are listed below:

Bada Dashai

In this festival, all the government and non- governmental institutions remain closed. People buy new clothes and eat delicious food. People play swing and play cards in this festival. People, whether they are rich or poor celebrate this festival with joy. Bada Dashain is one of the biggest festivals of Hindus. It is celebrated during the month of Kartik which is late September and early October. Dashain is the longest and the most auspicious festival celebrated in Nepal. Nepalese of all caste and creed celebrate this festival throughout the country. This festival is the festival of victory. It is also celebrated as the victory of truth.The first day of Dashain is called Ghatasthapana, which literally means pot establishing. The eighth day is called the Maha Asthami, In this day people worship and sacrifice to Durga and Kali increases. The night of the eighth day is called 'Kal Ratri', the dark night. Hundreds of goats, buffaloes and sheeps are sacrificed at the temples of mother goddess. The ninth day is called Maha Navami, on this very day the God of creativity, Vishwa Karma, is also worshipped. The tenth day of the festival is the 'Dasami'.On this day we receive tika and jamara from our elders and receive their blessing too. We visit our elders in their home and then get tika on our foreheads from them while our younger ones come to our home to receive the blessing from us. The entire family members gather together and exchange their good wishes and happiness among each other.

Tihar

Tihar is also known as the festivals of lights. It is celebrated for five days which comes soon after Dashain. In this festival, we worship Laxmi, the Goddess of Wealth along with the worship of dog, crow, and cow. On the last day, brothers are greeted and blessed by the sisters.

The first day of the festival is called "Kag Tihar". In that day, we worship crows. People offer sweets and dishes on the roof of the houses. The second day is known as "Kukur puja". On this day, people offer garlands, tika and delicious foods to the dogs. In the third day, we worship cow as "Laxmi-Puja". In this day people decored their house with different flowers, electric lights and candles etc. In the evening, people play " Bhailli".

The fourth day is called "Govardhan puja' or "Mhapuja" among Newar community. The last day of Tihar is called as Bhai Tika. On this day, sisters pray for the prosperous and long life of their brothers. It is believed that a girl called the Yamuna whose brother was ill. Yama, the God of Death came to take her brother with him. She prayed for his long and healthy life. Yama was very pleased with her and promised her not to take her brother’s soul until the offerings of turf grass and the flowers remained fresh and unwilted. As the turfgrass and the flowers remained fresh till the next Bhai Tika. Long long ago, Yama granted the boy a long life and from then, the sisters began to worship their brothers for their long and healthy life.

Lhosar

Lhosar festival is celebrated by the Mongolian Nepali people or Tibetan-Nepali people. There are some other kinds of Losar festival celebrated in Nepal. It is celebrated by Tamangs, Thakalis, Sherpas, Gurungs and Bhotias. Tamu Lhosar is celebrated on the month of poush. Sonam Lhosar on magh and Gyalpo Lhosar on Falgun respectively. Loshar is the time when family member gathers and celebrate with cultural processions and feasting. Also on this day, older people give money and blessing to younger ones. People celebrate Losar in their traditional outfit and go around Buddhist temples. Men wear Bhangra, a white cloth shirt-like apparel tied across the chest and open like a bag at the back, and a Kachhad, like a short sarong or kilt while women wear maroon velvet Ghalek (blouses). People enjoy dancing and singing the traditional songs. They eat delicious food like Khapse and special kind of bread called 'Alum'. They welcome their guests and visit their elder relatives and exchange good wishes.

Christmas

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The Christians believe Jesus christ is the son of God. Christians celebrate Jesus’ birthday on December 25. It is a belief that God came into the world in the form of man to atone for the sins of humanity. The day before Christmas is known as 'Christmas Eve' which is celebrated on 24th of December. On this day, people decorate their houses and Christmas tree with lights, flowers and other colourful items. They keep the gifts under the tree for their friends and relatives.

They visit Church for prayer on the day of Christmas. They sing Christmas carol in the Church and pray for the peace and prosperity in the world. They invite their friends and relatives and prepare a special Christmas meal.

Teej

Teej is the festival celebrated by Nepali women for a long life of her husband. It helps to maintain a good relationship between them. It is the most famous festival among Nepali women. In this day Nepalese girls especially married go for a strict fast and worship. They wish for their happy married life. Unmarried girls also wish for a good husband like the lord. Women wearing red clothes visit the temple of Lord shiva on this day to pray. It falls on the day of August or September of English calender which is some day of Bhadra month of Nepali Calendar. Teej is the festival dedicated to the goddess Parvati, remembering her union with lord shiva. Hindu women across the country celebrate this festival with much fun. They eat in the form of “dar’ which varies from place to place. The women in the eastern Nepal take porridge, sel roti, and mutton in the form of dar. Similarly, in the western Nepal, they eat rice cooked in ghee which they call latte.

Chhath

This festival is dedicated to god sun. It is celebrated for six days soon after “ Bhai Tika”. The sun is called Surya in Sanskrit. Chhat parba is about thanksgiving to lord Surya for sustaining life on earth. It is believed that worshipping him to provide his continuous blessings to mankind. On the first day of the Chhat puja, the devotees take a dip in the holy river and carry home the holy water of the river to prepare the offerings. On the second day, people do fasting for the whole day which ends in the evening. On the third day. It is on Kartik Shukla Shashti. On this special day, the entire household accompanies the parvaitins to a river bank, pond. In the evening people gather together and perform cultural programs with music and dances. The folk songs sung on the evening of Chhath reflect the culture, social structure, and history of Mithila Pradesh.

Udhauli Ubhauli

This festival is the festival of Rai Community. It is the festivals marked by Kiratis. The holy book of Kirats Mundhum mentions that there are two phases in one year which are Ubhauli and Udhauli. People dance Chandi nach in this festival. It is celebrated in Baisakh- Jestha and said as Baisakhi and Wada get. Kiratis are the worshipper of nature . Agriculture is the lifeline of this community. The Kirats celebrate the Udhauli festival to thank nature for providing them with a good harvest. The festival marks the beginning of the farming season and the arrival of summer. People do puja of their ancestor in every house. People of Rai community dance with playing Dhola Jhyamta, eat several special dishes and celebrate it happily