Nepal being a small country by area, is actually a homeland to 142 ethnic groups of people. Each ethnicity having their own unique culture, tradition and religious diversities. Festivals reflect harmonious co-existence among the people of different groups, religious tolerance and cultural heritages. Different ethnic groups celebrate the wide varieties of festivals since a very long time. The years long vibrant festivals, traditional music, beautiful cultural attires will attract you to visit Nepal and celebrate these festivals with the locals with great enthusiasm and joy.
The welcoming hospitality of the Nepali people will drive you to jump into the authentic alleys of Nepal and dance to the beat of the traditional music. The rituals, feasts and the family gatherings during the festivals gives you a glimpse of Nepal’s cultural richness and the unity among the people. The festivals also showcase the unique feature of Nepal, “Unity in Diversity.”
Even though all the people belong to different ethnicity, they all have the feeling of brotherhood and they equally respect other’s festivals and cultural practices.
So, let’s get to know about few of the biggest festivals that Nepal has been celebrating over the years;
1) Dashain
This festival is one of the biggest and the most significant festival celebrated by the Nepali which lasts for 10 days long. The first nine days of the festival is also known as Navaratri, in which people perform several religious rituals, worship gods and goddess, whereas, the last 10th day is celebrated as Vijaya Dashami, which is also celebrated as the victory of the good over the evil. It usually falls in the month of September/ October. This festival brings all the family members, friends and relatives together under the same roof. Varieties of dishes are prepared and the older people of the family offer the younger ones with tika, jamara and blessings. All the members gather together, have feast together, play cards with love and laughter. The children also play swing leaving the grounds. Dashain festival is such a vibrant festival to celebrate.
2) Tihar
Tihar or the Deepawali festival is also known as the festival of lights. It usually falls in the month of October. People celebrate this festival for five days long and different animals are worshipped in these days such as crow, dog, cow, ox, and on the last day of Tihar, which is also known as Bhai Tika, brothers are worshipped by their sisters giving them the blessings of good health, prosperity and longevity.
3) Losar
This festival is also celebrated as Tibetan new year in the Tibetan Buddhism which is usually celebrated by the people of ethnic groups like Sherpa, Gurung and Tamang in different months of the year. This festival is very vibrant which involves traditional rituals, dancing, feasting and enjoying with the friends and families. Also, the wholesome decorations are done during this festival that involves colorful prayer flags and shrines in the honor of deities and ancestors. Losar festival is the perfect time to experience the cultural richness of Buddhism.
4)Buddha Jayanti
Buddha Jayanti, also known as the Buddha Purnima is a festival celebrated to commemorate the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. This festival holds significance to not only the Buddhists but also to the Hindus in Nepal. It falls in the full moon day of April or May. It is celebrated by decorating with colorful prayer flags, meditating, lightening the butter lamps, performing various religious ceremonies and helping the needy people. Various cultural programs, traditional music, dance are organized in different places and in some places the colorful chariot procession carrying the statues of Lord Buddha are carried through the streets and devotees chant and sing hymns. Whereas, the lamas or the spiritual leaders gives the teachings of Lord Buddha to the devotees. So, this day is celebrated in the honor of all the teachings made by Lord Buddha.
5) Maghe Sankranti
This festival is celebrated by the Nepali people as the end of the winter solstice as it falls in the first day of Magh, in Nepali calendar and it usually falls on January 14. It is that time of the year when all the family members gather together, feats, and perform different religious rituals. People take holy baths, visit temples, take blessings from the parents and the guardians and eat special food items like ghee, molasses, sesame seed balls, yam and sweet potatoes and so on which is believed to provide us warmth and keep our body healthy. In the Tharu community, this festival is known as Maghi which marks the New Year. Whereas, for the farmers this festival marks the beginning of the new harvesting season. So, Maghe Sankranti brings the spirit of togetherness, celebration of natural cycles and gratitude towards the nature.
6) Shivaratri
Shivaratri is one of the significant Hindu festivals which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This festival shows the great devotion across the country. This festival also marks the convergence of the divine energy in the Earth. The devotees observe this festival by fasting, chanting the prayers, Om Namah Shivaya’, taking part in the rituals to honor the mighty Lord Shiva. This festival is celebrated to bring good health, prosperity and spiritual growth. Shivaratri is also celebrated as the victory over darkness. Devotees take holy bath and offer milk, fruits, flowers and Bilva leaves to the Shiva Linga. The biggest celebration takes place in Pashupatinath temple which is also enlisted in the World Heritage Site of UNESCO. They stay awake the entire night engaging in the prayers, devotional songs, in the belief that the Lord Shiva performs his divine dance, ‘Tandava’, in this night. Also, the large fairs take place around the Shiva temples. They light the lamps around the temple and their homes to burn the impurities and negative energies. So, Shivaratri festival is celebrated to inspire the people to lead a life of spiritual awareness and righteousness.
7) Indra Jatra
Indra Jatra is one of the biggest festivals of Nepal which is celebrated in the cities of Kathmandu valley and mainly in the Basantapur Durbar Square. Indra Jatra is also known as Yenya. The eight days long festival is celebrated in the honor of Lord Indra, who is believed to be the god of rain and the king of heaven. This festival falls in the month of September and it marks the end of monsoon season. This festival begins with the erection of a ceremonial pole known as, ‘Yosin’ at Basantapur Durbar Square. In this festival, the living goddess ‘Kumari’ is paraded through the streets of Kathmandu in a chariot procession ceremony in which she is accompanied by Lord Ganesh and Lord Bhairav who are also carried in different chariots. Another attraction of Indra Jatra is ‘Lakhey dance’. The demon like figure goes dancing through the alleys of Kathmandu protecting the community from the evil spirits. Also, the Lord Indra’s mythical mount ‘Pulukisi’ representing white elephant parades through this city searching for his master, Lord Indra. Along with these, the statue of Lord Swet Bhairav is displayed and customary special rice beer is poured from his mouth to the devotees. It is believed that drinking of that rice beer brings good fortune and good health. Different traditional masked dance which is known as ‘Dyo Pyakhan’ in local language are performed by wearing the traditional dresses representing the deities and demons in the streets of Kathmandu. This festival helps to preserve the ancient Newari tradition, culture, music and rituals and helps to pass them down to the new generation.
8) Holi
Holi is the festival of the colors which represents the beauty of nature. It is the vibrant and joyous festival which is celebrated all over the country. This festival marks the beginning of the spring season. It signifies the triumph of good over evil and shows the significance of unity and joy. People of all the age groups come together, play with colors and water with great laughter and joy. Different types of folk music are played and sang and people enjoy this lively atmosphere. People gather together, party and dance with each other with the feeling of unity. It is a time for the socialization and togetherness. This festival also breaks down all the social barriers and promotes inclusion among the people.
9) Teej
Teej festival is dedicated to Goddess Parvati and her union with Lord Shiva. This significant festival is celebrated by the women of Nepal. It usually falls in the month of late August or early September. Teej festival is a celebration of the marital bliss and the well being of the family. The day before Teej is known as ‘Dar Khane Din’ which means feasting. The married women go to their own parent’s home where all the other women and girls gather together to enjoy the lavish meal. Whereas, on the day of Teej, they strictly do the fasting refraining from food and water that entire day. This fasting is believed to bring longevity in husband’s life, harmony in married life and the unmarried girls pray for their good husband in future. All the women go to the temples, gather together, make offerings and prayers, sing and dance that whole day. This festival is all about a woman supporting other woman and it provides a platform to express their feelings with one another. This vibrant festival reflects the strength of the women and the marital harmony.
All the vibrant festivals of Nepal beautifully showcase the joy, harmony and unity among family, friends and the entire nation. The festivals represent our glory and the pride. So, when you make a trip in Nepal, be prepared to get indulged in the joy and harmony that the festival brings.