Festivals

Festivals

Sonam Lhosar

Sonam Lhosar is celebrated by Tamang community as the new year. The word Lhosar means New Year, Lho means year and Sar means new. Tamang community is the native people of Nepal. They have their own culture and language just like other ethnic groups of Nepal. Sonam Lhosar falls on the first full moon of the month Magh in Nepali Calendar and early January to mid-February in English calendar. So, the day of Sonam Lhosar is different every year.

Festivals

Christmas

Christmas is an annual festival celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike which mark the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration. People starts shopping for Christmas from early December. People attend special services in the church on the Christmas eve. Exchanging gifts is also one of the core aspect of Christmas.

Festivals

Chaite Dashain

Chaite Dashain is one of the two Dashain. This dashain is known as Chaite Dashain because it falls in the month of Chaitra, last month of Nepali calendar year. This is the last festival in Nepali calendar year. This festival has same importance as the Bijaya Dashami even though it is celebrated only for 2 days.

Festivals

Ram Navami

Ram Navami is a spring festival which is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ram. He is particularly important to the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism, as the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Lord Ram symbolizes “the ideal man”. This festival is celebrated by reading stories about Lord Ram, reciting Ram Katha.

Festivals

Ghode jatra

Ghode jatra festival is also known as the festival of horses or horse parade. Horse Parade is organized in Tudikhel, Kathmandu every year. Ghode Jatra is known as the oldest festival celebrated in the country. On the day, the Nepali Army cavalry team performs different artistic stunts riding on their horses.

Festivals

Fagu Purnima

Fagu Purnima is the festival of colours. This 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. It is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest.

Festivals

Maha Shivaratri

Maha Shivaratri is one of the major festival of Nepal. It is a national holiday. This festival is celebrated annually in honor of God Shiva. Maha Shivaratri means “the Great Night of Shiva” This festival is solemn and marks a remembrance of “overcoming darkness and ignorance” in life and the world. Unlike most Hindu festivals which are celebrated during the day, Maha Shivaratri is celebrated at night. This festival is celebrated widely in Shiva temples all over the country, but especially in the Pashupatinath temple.

Festivals

Shree Panchami

S hree Panchami, Basanta panchami or Saraswati Pooja is one of the most important festival of Nepal. This day marks the end of winter and starting of spring. Goddess Saraswati is worshiped on this day. Goddess Saraswati is regarded as the goddess of knowledge,language, music and all arts. Goddess Saraswati is four handed Goddess seated on a white lotus wearing white sari. She holds Veena, Book and a garland in her hands.

Festivals

Maghe Sankranti

Maghe Sankranti is celebrated on the first day of month Magh. This festival is also called Makar Sankranti. Month Magh marks the coming of new festivals and ceremonies. It also marks mid of winter in Nepal. In this festival, people take ritual bath in holy rivers. The bath is taken notably at auspicious river locations. Some of the rivers include River Bagmati in Sankhamul, Devghat near Chitwan valley, Ridi, The Sachi Tirtha at Trivenighat in Panauti.

Festivals

Bala Chaturdashi

Bala Chaturdashi also known as Satbij Chharne Aaushi. In this festival people light diyo(traditional oil lamp) in the evening and ensures that the diyo keeps burning through out the night. People sing bhajans and dance throughout the night praying lord Shiva. The next day people take bath in Bagmati river. Bagmati river is considered to be the most holy river of Nepal.