7 Festivals in Nepal Every Traveler Should Experience
There are various festivals celebrated in Nepal but most importantly there are 7 festivals in Nepal Every Traveler should Experience. Nepal is a diverse country which is not only the land of the mountains but also the land of festivals. The most enjoyable portion about the festivals in Nepal is that all the celebrations are celebrated with the very spirit and plentiful the way it used to be hundreds of years ago when somebody had no other midpoints of enjoyment.
Each society holds its own cultures and traditions which they have been following for ages. Each festival has its own beliefs and festivals to rejoice. Nevertheless, we have tried to list the main festivals, which have attracted tourists from several sections of the world.
About 80 % of the people are Hindu In Nepal, Dashain is regarded as a major festival of Nepal. It is the most important festivity of the year. Dashain falls in the month of October – November
Dashain
The festivity is celebrated for 15 days. Ghatasthapana, the first day of Dashain marks the start of this festival. Families worship the Ashta-Matrikas and the nine avatars of Durga for the remaining nine days. On the tenth day, people take Tika and Jamara along with blessings from the ancestors and this lasts for the next 5 days. The last day of the Dashain festival is on the full moon day which is called ‘Kojagrata’ Purnima.
The main charm of this festival is happiness where you get to meet your loved ones, a grouping of the family members and friends, those who stay in various parts of the country or abroad are returned home to rejoice this festival.
It is the second biggest festivals in Nepal, the Tihar(Deepawali) is known as festivals of lights as well and falls in the months of the end of October or November, This festival is celebrated for five days. The first two days are celebrated by worshipping crows and dogs for a good sign. The third day is celebrated by worshipping cows.
Tihar
During the evening of the third day, people crack crackers and light small earthen lamps in their homes. On the fourth day, Oxen is worshipped in the morning and you can watch the unique Govardhan Pooja during the evening.
If you are visiting Newar community areas, the fourth day is celebrated as Mha Puja, New Year. The closing day is the Bhai Tika (Brother’s day). This festivity is celebrated between brothers and sisters of the family.
It is celebrated by enjoying the harmonious connection between the siblings. Sisters pray for the well-being of their brothers and put tika on the forehead for longevity. On the other hand, brothers gift sweets and present to their sisters.
During Mha Puja, the families celebrate by performing unique rituals to purify the house. They sit on floors with circular diagrams made with sand. They follow unique rituals during this celebration.
Fagu Purnima or Holi is known as the festival of colors and falls between February/ March. This lively festival is enjoyed by playing with colors and water.
The day is supposed to be a celebration of the death of ‘Holika’, someone who tried to kill Vishnu’s devotee Prahlad. Holika and Prahlad were both lit, but only Holika burned to death. This could be the purpose of splattering each other with water.
Holi
Holi marks the arrival of spring as well. Days start to get warmer and colorful flowers bloom. Holi is celebrated on two separate days.
Hilly region celebrates the Holi festival on the day of the full moon while the Terai region celebrates it the next day.
Holi marks the end of winter. It’s celebrated by playing games with colored powder and water. This day, playful people especially the youthful ones ramble through the streets in groups on foot or wheels with several colors covered all over them and the people in houses make joyous throwing colors and water balloons at each other and also to these people on the ways.
Buddha Jayanti is the birth celebration of Lord Buddha, which is celebrated every year during May in Nepal. He was born in 563 BC in Lumbini, Kapilvastu. He is the light of Asia and also became the founder of Buddhism.
Buddha Jayanti
It is an auspicious day, during this day people and devotees visit Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, Lumbini and other various monasteries and stupas during the day. Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Lumbini and other stupas and monasteries during the day.
On this day, On this day people crowd in Swayambhunath and Boudhanath to pay tribute to Lord Buddha and also do visit Buddha’s birthplace in Lumbini and light butter lamps and chant prayers. The splendidly lit butter lamps make these holy sites seem more magical in the evening.
Lhosar, which means Tibetan New Year, is celebrated by Buddhists from various parts of Nepal. Different societies rejoice Lhosar at distinct times of the year. Mainly there are three Lhosar festivals: Sonam Lhosar, Tamu Lhosar, and Gyalbo Lhosar.
Lhosar
Sonam Losar is celebrated in Tamang & Yolmo communities, Gyalbo Lhosar is celebrated in Tibetan communities of the hilly areas, and Tamu Losar is celebrated in Gurung communities.
On this auspicious day, Buddhists read prayers, decorate the houses & monasteries, make various special foods and other social processes. They will have family feasting, mask dances display of religious scrolls and others.
Mahashivaratri is one of the fondly celebrated festivals of Nepal that falls sometime between February/March. Hindu devotees from all over the country and neighboring India have gathered to the divine Pashupatinath Temple for the yearly Maha Shivaratri Festival. This festival dedicated to the Lord of lords -Mahadev or Lord Shiva. He is the one who lived in Mt.Kailash in the Himalayans. Devotees on this day, take dip & bath in the sacred river at early sunrise and fast for the whole day.
Shiva Ratri
Primarily it is celebrated at night as its name implies Shivaratri, by maintaining an all-night wake, playing the sitars, offering prayers, enjoying music and dances, along with a bonfire. On this day, sadhus from India and Nepal paint their faces and bodies applied with ash are noticed fasting, meditating and smoking cannabis. They also used bhang and ganja as a Shivaji's prasad.
Teej festival is specially celebrated by women in the month of September/October. In other words, it is also known as Hari Talika Teej. Most importantly, it is celebrated for the success, long life and good health of the husband; also to have a good bond between wife and husband. The unmarried women also celebrate this festival with the hope that they will get to marry good husbands. Also, they do visit their families and enjoy varieties of sweets before and after the fast.
Teej
During this day, women are in Red Saris and wearing different ornaments with singing and dancing almost everywhere in Nepal. All they gather together to dance and sing about womanhood. From early morning, women stand up in the multiple lines in various temples to offer their prayers to Lord Shiva.
These are the main 7 Nepal festivals that every traveler will encounter on their way to Nepal.