Nepal is also a country with various religious and cultural traditions. Hence, people as per their belief celebrate different festivials round the year. Dashain, Tihar, Chhath, Shivaratri, Holi, IndraJatra, Teej, Bisket Jatra, Gaijatra are among the most celebrated festivals in Nepal.
Dashain:
During the month of Asoj or Kartik (late September and early October), the Nepalis indulge in the biggest festival of the year, Dashain. This is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepali annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalis of all caste and creed throughout the country and abroad. Dashain commemorates a great victory of the gods over the wicked demons. It is said that lord Ram was successful in the battle only when goddess Durga was evoked. The main celebration glorifies the triumph of good over evil and is symbolized by goddess Durga slaying the terrible demon Mahisasur.
Tihar:
Tihar also known as Deepawali is a five-day-long Hindu festival celebrated in Nepal. It is the celebration of lights and color dedicated to Goddess Laxmi. Tihar is the second biggest festival of Nepalis festival after Dashain. 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.
Rato Machhindranath:
Rato Machhindranath Jatra is a chariot procession honoring the Buddhist deity of compassion Avalokitesvar in Lalitpur district. It is one of the important religious events in the city and the longest chariot festival celebrated in the country.
Rato Machhindranath is revered as the giver of the rain in Kathmandu Valley. The name Rato Machhindranath means Red Machhendranath in a reference to the color of the deity’s image. Preparations for the festival begin with construction of a 60-foot tall chariot at Pulchowk at the western end of Patan. When the chariot is complete, the image of
Ratomachhindranath from his temple is installed in it. The chariot is pulled through the streets of Lalitpur on a tour that lasts for a month.
Seto Machhindranath:
Seto Machhindranath is a deity worshiped by both Hindus and Buddhists in Kathmandu. The temple of Seto Machindranath is believed to have been established around the 10th century. The chariot procession festival of Seto Machindranath jatra is celebrated during the month of Chaitra (March/April). This is three day long festival ub which the deity is bathed and repainted every year as a ritual that symbolizes the changes occurring throughout our lives. The ceremony is held on the 8th day of the bright fortnight of the third month of Nepali calendar. The main highlight of this event is that the Living Goddess, Kumari attends this ritual.
Buddha Jayanti:
Buddha Jayanti is celebrated to mark the birthday of the Lord Buddha which dates back in about 543 BC. It falls on the full moon night of either in May or June. Buddhists make their pilgrimage to Lumbini, Buddha’s birth place on this auspicious day. There are also celebrations in Syambhunath and Boddha in Kathmandu.
Maha Shivaratri:
Mahashivaratri is the celebration dedicated to the Lord Shiva which falls in February or March. It is the celebration of birthday of supreme god of Hindu mythological figure Shiva. Hundreds of thousands of visitors from Nepal and India make their pilgrimage to Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. Shiva is the third God in the Hindu triumvirate. The triumvirate consists of three gods–Brahma, responsible for creation, Vishnu, the preserver and Shiva, the destruction of the world.
Indra Jatra:
The eight-day long Indra Jatra festival falls in September and is one of the most exciting and revered festivals of the Newari community in the Kathmandu Valley. It begins with the erection of a wooden pole made of pine at Basantapur Durbar Sqaure in front of the old Hanuman Dhoka Palace.
For the pole-raising ceremony, hundreds of spectators gather at the Palace Square and on the surrounding temples. The chariot of Kumari, the Living Goddess, is taken out in a procession through the main streets of Kathmandu.
Heritage in Nepal
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Listed as the World Heritage Site, the former royal palace of Nepal is the center of Kathmandu’s religious and social life, and houses a museum containing an array of bronze statues and religious objects. It consists of the 17th century temple Krishna temple which is built entirely of stone with rare stone carvings on its walls depicting the epic wars from Ramayana and Mahabharata. The main attraction of Basantapur Durbar Square are Kumari Ghar (living goddess of Nepal), Taleju Bhawani Temple, only open once a year for public and Kashtamandap. The Basantapur Durbar Square and Kasthamandap were damaged by the devastating earthquake of 2015. They are now in reconstruction and renovation. Visitors can visit the sites by paying entry fees.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square:
Bhaktapur Durbar Square is known as the open museum and a living heritage. Brick paved enclave of the old royal palace buildings dating back 13th to 14th centuries, artistic temples and exquisite artwork offers a picture of the grandeur of medieval Nepal. Bhaktapur area will surprise visitors with its presentation of innumerable temples and other architectural showpieces – Nyatapola, Bhairavnath, Dattatreya, Pujarinath with peacock window and many more.
Patan Durbar Square:
Patan, is one of the cities close to Kathmandu which is rich in its heritage. What is more interesting about Patan is its still functional court yards (Bahals) shared by bunch of houses and water conduits (Hiti) where people still gather to fill drinking water.
The square boasts of many famous sites and unique architecture. Krishna Mandir in the Patan Durbar Square was built to honor an incarnation of Vishnu. Krishna was a favorite among the gopini (cowgirls). His temple is the best example of stone architecture in the world. Scenes from the Mahabharat, Asia’s greatest mythological war, are carved on the temple’s walls. The streets in the Patan Durbar Square area are home to traditional artists and sculptors. Many more temples dedicated to Ganesh (the elephant-headed god), Shiva, Narsingha, Taleju, and others are located in Patan Durbar Square.
Boudhanath Stupa:
Boudhanath is among the largest Stupas in south Asia. It has become the focal point of Buddhism in Nepal. The white mound looms thirty six meters high. The Stupa is located on the ancient trade route to China in Boudha, Kathmandu Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers in the stupa in the ancinent time.
Lumbini:
Lumbini has become a place very dear to people, not just Buddhist but to anyone who love peace and advocates to promote it. Lumbini is a very simple and plain place where visitors will get to see the ruins of where Buddha was born and spent his childhood. What has become interesting is that people from all over the world is working towards developing this area. Visitors will see various temples made by different countries in their own styles. The Chinese temple is built in pagoda style, whereas, the German temple has totally different architecture and style.
Changu Narayan:
Two-tiered Changunarayan temple is 15 kilometers away from Kathmandu city. Since this is the temple of Lord Vishnu, also called Narayan and is situated near Changu. Stone inscription of 464 A.D and other architectural master piece featured in the temple showcase ancient history of Nepal. The temple also bores the sculptures of Vishnu’s ten incarnations; Vishwaroop, Vishnu Vikranta, Vishnu riding Garuda, Nar-Singha Vishnu, etc. Temples of Kileswar Shiva, Chinnamasta Devi and other gods and goddesses are also present in the vicinity of Changunarayan temple. The temple provides an awesome view of Manohara River cascading through lush green vegetation.