It is said about Nepal that every other structure is a holy shrine and every other day a festival. Well, if the number of annual festivals, both religious and national, is any indication, the saying couldn\'t be more true. Festivals are an essential part of Nepalese life that garner tremendous local participation. Festivals also offer visitors a valuable opportunity not only for having fun but gaining insight into various aspects of Nepalese culture. The religious festivals follow the lunar calendar, while national festivals have fixed dates. Wherever or whenever you arrive in Nepal, you can be pretty sure of being at the right time for one or more special events. Some of the major and interesting festivals are presented below.
Sweta Machhendranalh Snan (January)
Sweta (white) Machhendranalh enjoys a week-long festival in he is bathed, oiled, perfumed, and painted. The Goddess Kumari visits him at his elaborate temple near Asan Tol. If he is pleased by the music, offerings, and attentions of his devotees, the people of the Valley can look forward to satisfactory rainfall in the planting season.
Swasthani (January -February)
Goddess Swasthani's three eyes burn like the sun. She is the ultimate gift grantor; if insulted, she can make life miserable. By worshipping Swasthani's, Parbati attained Lord Shiva as her husband. In the worship rites of Goddess Swasthani are, outlined by Parbati, the Swasthani's scripture is read every evening for a month.
Maghe Sankranti (January)
In the holy month of Magh the sun enters the southern hemisphere, and the days begin to grow longer and warmer. Lord Vishnu the Preserver is thanked for his efforts. On Maghe Sankranti (the first day of Magh) people take an early morning bath in a holy river, visit the shrines of Vishnu, and present flowers, incense and food to him.
Basanta Panchami and Saraswati Puja (January)
Basanta, or spring, ushers in the loveliest time of the year. Crowds gather at Kathmandu\\\'s Durbar Square while His Majesty the King and other dignitaries welcome the season as a band plays the traditional song of spring.
Maha Shivaratri (February)
Lord Shiva is one of Nepal's most popular gods. During Maha Shivaratri, his "Great Night", followers throughout the Indian sub-continent crowd the Pashupati temple to worship him. On this occasion "there is no space even for a sesame seed".
Losar (February)
Sherpas and Tibetans welcome their New Year with feasts, family visits and dancing. Families don their finest clothes and jewelry and exchange gifts. Buddhist monks offer prayers for good health and prosperity, and perform dances at the monasteries.
Holi or Fagu Purnima (March)
Fagu Purnima is one of the most colorful and playful festivals of Nepal. The chir pole, decorated with colorful flags and erected on the first day of Fagu at Kathmandu\\\'s Durbar Square, is a formal announcement to all: hide your good clothes, for throughout the week you may be splashed with colored powder and water balloons.
Chaitra Dasain, March - April
Red vermillion powder, family blessings, and goat and duck sacrifices are essential to praise the victory of Ram, hero of the epic Ramayana, over the evil king Rawan. Mother Goddess Durga, the source of all power, must be supplicated too, for her powers helped Ram achieve his victory.
Ghode Jatra (April)
Visitors are often amazed by the fine horses of the Nepalese army, and Ghode Jatra is a time for the most graceful of these animals to perform before the public eye. Legends relate that this \\\'\\\'horse festival\\\" was begun after the Kathmandu people buried a demon under the soil of Tundikhel showgrounds.
Red Machhendranath Jatra (May)
This festival is the biggest socio-cultural event of Patan. The wheeled chariot of a deity know as Bungdyo or Red Machchhendranath is made at Pulchowk and dragged through the city of Patan in several stages till it reaches the appointed destination (lagankhel).
Buddha Jayanti (May)
The ever-benevolent Buddha was born in Nepal, and the religion he preached is the second most popular in the kingdom. On May 6, a full moon day, the Lord\\\'s birth, enlightenment, and salvation are applauded throughout the valley with celebrations.
Dumji (July)
Dumji is one of the sared ceremonies of the Sherpa community. It is celebrated in the month of July. Dumji is celebrated by the Sherpas in Namche region. The Sherpas of Kathmandu and Helambu regions also participate in dancing on this day.
Gunla (July-August)
The monsoon has arrived, and the fields have been planted. It is time for Kathmandu Valley Buddhists to observe Gunla. The month-long festivities celebrate a \\\'\\\'rains retreat\\\'\\\' initiated twenty-five centuries ago by the Buddha.
Krishna Asthami (August)
The seventh day after the full moon in the month of Bhadra is celebrated as God Krishna\\\'s birthday, sometimes known as Krishnasthanmi.
Janai Purnima and Raksha Bandhan (August)
On Janai Purnima, a full moon day, high-caste Hindus chant the powerful Gayatri mantra and change their Sacred Thread (\\\'anai), while a raksya bandhan, a red or yellow protection cord, is tied around the wrists of other Hindus and Buddhists.
Gai Jatra (August)
The gai, or cow, is holy to Hindus. She represents Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, and guides the souls of the departed to the gates of the Netherworld. But Gai Jatra is not a somber occasion. Satire, jokes, fancy costumes, and colorful processions are the order of the
Teej (September)
Pashupati, the temple of Shiva, is drenched in crimson during Teej as women in their fine red wedding saris crowd the temple grounds. This unique women\\\'s festival is marked by fasting, folk songs, and dancing as the women recall Parbati\\\'s devotion to her husband Shiva. Married women visit their fathers\\\' homes.
Indra Jatra (September)
Indra, King of Heaven and controller of the rains, has once again blessed the Valley. As the end of the monsoon nears, farmers look forward to a rich harvest: everyone is grateful to the deva for his help. For eight days, Kathmandu\\\'s Durbar Square is the focus of a great celebration fit to \\\"flatter the King of Heaven.\\\"
Dasain (October)
Dasain is the longest and most favorite festival of Nepal. Everyone stays home with their families, offices close and Radio Nepal plays Dasain music. The skies of Kathmandu are filled with kites and the marketplaces are filled with farmers bringing their buffaloes, goats and chickens to sell.
Tihar (November)
Tihar, known as the Festival of Lights, is a time of candlelight, tinsel decorations and festive colored sweets. On different days, there are offerings and small celebrations for crows, dogs, cows and oxen. On the night of Lakshmi Puja, garlands are hung and lamps are lighted to invite Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, into the home.
Vibhaha Panchami (November / Dec)
This is a famous festival of Janakpur in the eastern Terai. The occasion commemorates the marriage of Sita to Ram, one of the most venerated Hindu divinities. It attracts thousands of piligrims from India to Janaki Temple in Jajakpur.
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