We all know that the beauty of Nepal lies in its natural beauty and diversity. Nepal houses people from different religions, ethnicity, and culture celebrating other festivals in Nepal. Due to the vast diversity, many festivals are celebrated annually throughout the country. Some major festivals are celebrated in a small minority, but many are also celebrated throughout the country by a vast majority of people despite their cultural or religious backgrounds. Let’s head to such ten significant festivals in Nepal celebrated all around the country.
1. Dashain
Dashain is one of the most important and most celebrated festivals in Nepal. Hindus mainly celebrate the festival, but since it is the biggest festival in Nepal, even people of other religions are seen celebrating it. The festival is celebrated during September or October, from the start of the bright lunar night, and ends on the full moon day.
The festival commemorated the victory of Goddess Durga over evil Mahishasura. It is celebrated over fifteen days, where the first nine days symbolize the battle, and the tenth day is when the Goddess Durga finally defeated the evil. The festival of Dashain ends on the 15th day, known as Kojagrat Purnima, the full moon day.
Each day has its ritual and the tenth day is when elders put tika and jamara prepared on the first day, Ghatasthapana, and give them blessings and some money known as “Dakshina.” People celebrate the 15 days by gathering with their family, eating delicious food, buying new clothes, flying kites, playing cards, and doing other fun activities.
2. Tihar
Soon after two weeks of Dashain, it is time for another significant Nepali festival, Tihar. The festival is celebrated for five days, also known as the festival of lights which falls in October or November every year. The festival starts with Kaag Tihar, followed by Laxmi Puja, Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Tika. Some the years, the Kaag and Kukur Tihar also happen on the same day.
Kaag Tihar is the day when people worship the crow to bring them good luck. On the 2nd day, Kukur Tihar, dogs are worshipped to cherish the relationship between man and their best friend. Laxmi Puja/Gai Tihar is the day when in the morning, people worship cows, and in the evening, people worship Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth. Just the day after the worship of Cows, people also worship oxen on Govardhan Puja. And finally, the festival of lights ends with Bhai tika, where the sisters pray for a better life and a better bond between brothers and sisters.
3. Buddha Jayanti
Buddha Jayanti is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Buddha during the full moon in the first month, Baisakh of the Nepali calendar, which generally falls in the May month of the English calendar. The history of the Buddha Jayanti dates back to around 543 BC when it was first celebrated and since then it has been celebrated every year.
Lord Buddha was said to be born in 623 BC in Lumbini, which is where most followers of Lord Buddha visit during the Buddha Jayanti.
4. Janai Purnima and Rakshya Bandhan
Janai Purnima is another important festival in Nepal. The festival takes place on the full moon day in the Shrawan, the fourth month of the Nepali calendar (August/September). On this day, Hindu men change their Janai, a holy thread on their bodies. Both women also wear a sacred thread on their wrists known as Raksha Bandhan. Many people go to different temples to put on the religious threat, and one of the most famous and holy sites is Gosainkunda, where people need to trek for a couple of days.
5. Teej
Teej is one of the significant festivals for Hindu women in Nepal. On this day, women practice fasting to pray for their marital happiness, the overall health of their family, and the purification of their bodies and soul. It is also said that women fast on this day, wishing to get a loving husband like Lord Shiva.
Women feast the night before, known as dar, to prepare for the fast and dance with their friends and families on the day of Teej and the night before.
6. Maha Shiv Ratri
The Maha Shiv Ratri is a festival dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva is one of the supreme gods, and on the day, stars align in an optimum position to raise spiritual energy.
A thousand devotees from around the country visit Pashupatinath or other Shiva temples to worship Lord Shiva and celebrate the festival. A lot of Sadhus also come all the way from India to worship Lord Shiva at Pashupati Nath.
People gather around light bonfires and eat holy meals on this day. Because of the religious significance, people are also allowed to consume marijuana during the festival of Shiva Ratri.
7. Holi
Holi, the festival of colors, is one of the major festivals in Nepal derived from the name demoness Holika. It is celebrated on the full-moon day during the Nepali Month Falgun (February/May). The festival is celebrated on two days, the first day in the Hilly region and the second day in the Terai region of Nepal.
People celebrate Holi with water and colors by putting colors on each other. Currently, the festival is also getting popular among tourists, and many tourists can be seen enjoying the festival in the streets of Nepal. Most people gather around Basantapur, Patan, Bhaktapur, or other areas to celebrate Holi.
8. Shree Krishna Janmashtami
Shri Krishna Janmashtami is the festival to commemorate the birthday of Lord Krishna. The festival falls during the Bhadra month of the Nepali Calendar (August/September). According to Hindu Mythology, Lord Krishna is regarded as the 8th reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, and the day of reincarnation is considered the day of Janmashtami.
During this festival, people visit Krishna temples, and most people around Kathmandu visit the Krishna Mandir on Patan. People also hold different ceremonies by hanging a pot with butter at a height, and other teams attempt to break the pot for the treat inside.
9. Maghe Sankranti
Maghe Sankranti is the first day of the month Magh which falls in mid-January. It is celebrated as the end of the cold season and the start of warmer days. During the festival, people eat delicious meals like ghee, sesame seed treats, sweet potatoes, yams, and other sweets. Families gather together, eat delicious food and attend different meals that happen on the day.
10. Indra Jatra
Indra Jatra is one exciting festival celebrated mainly by the Newar community in Nepal. The festival is celebrated to worship Lord Indra, the god of rain. People celebrate the festival by erecting a wooden pine pole in the Kathmandu Durbar Square in front of the Hanuman Dhoka. The chariot of the Living Goddess Kumari, Ganesh, and Bhairav are also taken out for the procession during Indra Jatra. Spectators gather around to get a glimpse of the festival being led by masked dancer, Lakhey.
Conclusion
Besides the ten festivals, many other festivals are celebrated in Nepal or within a community or religion in Nepal. Countless festivals being celebrated all around the year have their own significance. We have listed some significant festivals celebrated by a vast majority in Nepal.
Plan your trip with Female Guide Holidays to enjoy a glimpse of different exciting festivals in Nepal.