Festivals of Nepal - Top Major Festivals of Nepal

Tucked between the superpowers China and India, Nepal is a Himalayan nation and is home to diverse culture. People celebrate different festivals in Nepal which is unique to just this country only. With its rich bio-diversity, varying landscapes and even more diverse culture of the people residing here makes this country a diverse country. Every community hold their own unique culture and tradition. These have been handed down over generations and the respective community have been following them for centuries. The communities are guided by their own set of beliefs and their festivals to celebrate. The festivals of Nepal have their own unique identity.

The major Festivals of Nepal are

Basanta Panchami

Goddess Saraswati is worshiped on this day. Saraswati is the goddess of learning and knowledge. Basanta Panchami also marks the beginning of Spring and end of Winter.

Maha Shivaratri

On this day, devotees of Lord Shiva bathe early in the morning and fast during the day. They then visit temples of Lord Shiva. Pashupatinath temple of Kathmandu is the best place to witness the festival. Thousands of Sadhus (the Hindu holy men) from different parts of the world converge here and smoke marijuana and hashish, considered dear to Lord Shiva. People also drink Bhang, a drink made by mixing ground nuts, spices, herbs and extracts of marijuana into milk.

Fagu Purnima or Holi

Festivals of colors : Holi

Holi is the festival of colors. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. People smear vermilion colored powders on their friends, relatives and family members. On this day, it is highly advised to pack your goods, specially electronic goods in air-tight plastic bag.

Ghode Jatra

Ghode Jatra, which meas the parading of the Horse is organized at Tudikhel in Kathmandu each year. This festival is celebrated to ward off the demon Gurumapa. It is believed that the soul of the demon still lives underground at Tundikhel. The horse are paraded to prevent him from rising again.

Bisket Jatra

Bisket Jatra is celebrated at the start of the new year according to the Bikram Sambat calendar, but is not related to Bikram Sambat. Legend has it that this celebration is the "festival after the death of the serpent". Numerous areas within Bhaktapur celebrate this festival according to their own ritual. But the most eventful places in the course of the festival are Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Thimi Balkumari.

Nepali New Year

Marking the start of the new year, this is a major holiday in Nepal. Bisket Jatra is one of the main festivals which also takes place during this day. A huge chariot carrying the god Bhairab is pulled through the streets. The festival ends with a chariot battle at Bhaktapur’s Khalna Tole.

Buddha Jayanti

Buddha Jayanti or Buddha’s birthday his a festival which commemorates the birth of Siddhartha Gautam who later founded Buddhism. Lord Buddha falls on the first full day of the first month of the Hindu lunar calendar, and is celebrated by Hindus as well as Buddhists. It is observed at Buddhist shrines and monasteries throughout Nepal. In Kathmandu, Boudhanath is a particularly good place to watch the festival.

Rato Machhendranath

Rato Machhendranath chariot

This is Nepal’s longest and largest festival held in the Patan city. Rato Machhendranath is the giver of rain, which is important for good harvesting. The festival is held according to the lunar calendar so the exact date varies. The festival was instituted to celebrate the arrival of Bunga Dyah in Nepal and the end of the devastating drought.

Naag Panchami

Naag Panchami is a tradition of worshiping of snakes or serpents. The Serpent deity made of silver, stone or wood or the painting of snakes on the wall are given a bath with milk and then revered. Pictures of the deity are posted in doorways and milk is also offered. This festival is also celebrated as part of the creation force and their blessings are sought for the welfare of the family.

Krishna Janmastami

Krishna Janmastami is celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna is also considered the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu and is the most important character in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharat. On this day Hindu devotees visit temples of Lord Krishna. In particular, thousands gather at the Krishna Mandir temple at Patan Durbar Square.

Indra Jatra

Indra Jatra is the biggest religious street festival in Kathmandu. This festival is commonly known as Yenya, which means "Kathmandu Festival" in Nepal Bhasa. The festival is marked by masked dances of deities and demons, displays of sacred images in honor of the deity Indra, the king of heaven. The other event is Kumari Jatra, the chariot procession of the living goddess Kumari.

Dashain

Dashain is the most important festivals of Nepal. Family who have been living far off due to many reasons come together during this festival. It is a celebration of good prevailing over evil in the Hindu mythology. It is the most auspicious festival in the Bikram Sambat annual calendar. Families who live apart during most time of the year come together to celebrate this festival. Ghatasthapana marks the start of the festival day and Navaratri marks the end of the Dashain festival.

Tihar

Garlands for sale during Tihar

Tihar, the festival of lights, is Nepal’s second most important festival. It is considered to be of great importance as it shows reverence to not just the humans and the gods, but also to the animals like crows, cows and dogs that maintain an intimate relationship with humans. The goddess Lakshmi is worshiped and it is believed to bring wealth.

Chhath

Chhath festival in an important festival observed in the Terai region of Nepal. This festival is dedicated to the Sun and his wife Usha in order to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes. In Hinduism, Sun worship is believed to help cure a variety of diseases. Devotees fast and make offerings to the sun by gathering at the nearest river banks.

Mani Rimdu

The festival of Mani Rimdu is one of the fascinating festivals of Nepal celebrated in the high Himalayas. This Buddhist festival is observed every year, usually in November (the date fixed by lunar calendar) in Tengboche Monastery just south of Mount Everest region. Mani Rimdu is a sacred ceremony and series of events of empowerment. The festival consists of nine days of ceremonies and meditation.

Lhosar

Lhosar festival is celebrated by the ethnic groups in Nepali who trace their history back to Tibet, namely the Gurung, Tamang and the Sherpa people. This day is the first day of the new year of their respective community, and each community celebrates the festival differently. This day marks a holiday and traditional dress being worn and meeting family and relatives. Festivities are held in cities and remote regions alike.

Dates for major Festivals of Nepal (year 2017)

Basanta Panchami : February 1, 2017 Maha Shivaratri : February 24, 2017 Fagu Purnima or Holi : March 12, 2017 Ghode Jatra : March 27 2018 Bisket Jatra : April , 2017 Nepali New Year : April 14, 2017 Buddha Jayanti : May 10, 2017 Rato Machhendranath : May-June 2017 Naag Panchami : July 28, 2017 Krishna Janmastami : August 15, 2017 Indra Jatra : September 16, 2017 Dashain : September 20 - October 4, 2017 Tihar : October 19-21, 2017 Chhath : October 25, 2017 Mani Rimdu : November 4 - November 6, 2017 Lhosar : December 2017 - February 2018

Experience the Festivals of Nepal

Are you ready to witness some of the Festivals of Nepal? Get your customized package in Nepal with your local trekking agent. Also, if you are interested do check in the regular travel deals and offers which are on offer on different travel packages.