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Nepal has different customs and traditions. There are
different religions and culture A festival is always a meaningful
and memorable event in the life of Nepalese people. Every festival has
some purpose to serve. Nepal has more festivals than the number of days in
a year. Festival is a way of life in Nepal. With the number of festivals
that Nepal has, it is one of the best ways to understand and appreciate
the Nepalese ways of life. Festivals therefore, are celebrated
accordingly. Nepalese regard festivals as pure of their life secure they
work throughout the year and they need leisure form their work. The need
of Nepalese leisure from their work is to fulfill by the celebration of
festivals.
As mentioned above various festivals are celebrated in
Nepal. Some festivals are known as national festivals. The national
festivals of Nepal are;
There are other festivals that represent the
religions aspects of Nepal. And them they are known as religions
festivals. Hindus do celebrate Dashain, Tihar
(Deepawali) Ram Nawami etc. Muslims do celebrate ID, Bakar ID and Mohram.
Where as Christian celebrate Christian as good Friday and Eslter. Buddist
Buddha pwrnima Jains celebrate Mahabir Jayanti. Dashain is the greatest
festival of Nepalese people especially of Hindus. Tihar, Deepawali is the
second great festival of the Hindus. This is also called Deepawali as
Deepawali.
It generally falls during October and November.
Deepawali is generally celebrated for five days. The first day of him
festivals is called Kagtihar ( festival of crow) when the crow is
worshipped. The 2nd Kukartihar (festival of dog) when the dog is
celebrated. On the third day Laxmi goddess is celebrated when the cow,
national animal of Nepal and also called Gaumata is worshipped in the
morning and the Goddess Laxmi in the evening. On the 4th day of this
festival, "Gobardhan Puja" when the bull or ox is worshipped. The 5th day
or the main attraction of this festival is known as "Bhaitika" when the
sisters worship their brother by putting Tika on their forehead garlanding
them. The brothers in their turn offer their sisters gifts as per their
ability. The sisters also offer food fruits, cell-roti - a king of food,
(a round fried bread) and gifts.
This festivals is a festival of light and that's why
it is also called Deepawali, on the third day of this festival (i.e. on
the Laxmi Puja day ) in the evening of everyone's homes are illuminated.
Small lamps ,candles are put at every corner of the house. At the doors,
windows corridors. It's believed that goddess Laxmi blesses the family on
this night
Dashain During the month of Kartik in the Bikram
Sambat calendar (late September and early October), the Nepalese people
indulge in the biggest festival of the year, Dashain. Dashain is the
longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar,
celebrated by Nepalese of all caste and creed throughout the country. The
fifteen days of celebration occurs during the bright lunar fortnight
ending on the day of the full moon. Thorough out the kingdom of Nepal the
goddess Durga in all her manifestations are worshiped with innumerable
pujas, abundant offerings and thousands of animal sacrifices for the
ritual holy bathing, thus drenching the goddess for days in
blood.
Dashain commemorates a great victory of the gods over
the wicked demons. One of the victory stories told is the Ramayan, where
the lord Ram after a big struggle slaughtered Ravana, the fiendish king of
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, who terrorised the earth in the guise of a brutal water
buffalo. The first nine days signify the nine days of ferrous battle
between goddess Durga and the demon Mahisasur. The tenth day is the day
when Mahisasur was slain and the last five days symbolise the celebration
of the victory with the blessing of the goddess. Dashain is celebrated
with great rejoice, and goddess Durga is worshiped throughout the kingdom
as the divine mother goddess.
In preparation for Dashain every home is cleansed and
beautifully decorated, painted as an invitation to the mother goddess, so
that she may visit and bless the house with good fortune. During this time
the reunion of distant and nearby relatives occur in every household. The
market is filled with shoppers seeking new clothing, gifts, luxuries and
enormous supplies of temple offering for the gods, as well as foodstuffs
for the family feasting. Thousands of sheep, goats, ducks, chicken and
water buffalo are prepared for the great slaughter. All types of
organisations are closed for ten to fifteen days. Labourers are almost
impossible to find; from the poor to the rich, all enjoy the festive mood.
Anywhere you go the aroma of 'Vijaya Dashami' is found.
The first nine days of Dashain are called nawa ratri
when tantric rites are conducted. In Nepal the life force is embodied in
the divine energy and power of the female, depicted as goddess Durga in
her many forms. All goddess who emanated from goddess Durga are known as
devis, each with different aspects and powers. In most mother goddess
temples the deity is represented simply as a sacred Kalash, carved water
jug or multiple handed goddess holding murderous weapons. During these
nine days people pay their homage to the goddess. If she is properly
worshiped and pleased good fortunes are on the way and if angered through
neglect then misfortunes are around the corner. Mother goddess is the
source of life and everything.
The first day of Dashain is called Ghatasthapana,
which literally means pot establishing. On this day the kalash, (holy
water vessel) symbolising goddess Durga often with her image embossed on
the side is placed in the prayer room. The kalash is filled with holy
water and covered with cowdung on to which seeds are sown. A small
rectangular sand block is made and the kalash is put in the centre. The
surrounding bed of sand is also seeded with grains. The ghatasthapana
ritual is performed at a certain auspicious moment determined by the
astrologers. At that particular moment the priest intones a welcome,
requesting goddess Durga to bless the vessel with her presence.
The room where the kalash is established is called
'Dashain Ghar'. Generally women are not allowed to enter the room where
Dashain puja is being carried out. A priest or a household man worships
the kalash everyday once in the morning and then in the evening. The
kalash and the sand are sprinkled with holy water everyday and it is
shielded from direct sunlight. By the tenth day, the seed will have grown
to five or six inches long yellow grass. The sacred yellow grass is called
'Jamara'. It is bestowed by the elders atop the heads of those younger to
them during the last five days when tika is put on. The jamara is taken as
a token of Goddess Durga as well as the elders blessing.
As days passes by regular rituals are observed till
the seventh day. The seventh day is called 'Fulpati'. On this day the
jamara to be used by the royal household is brought from their ancestral
royal house in Gorkha about a hundred and sixty nine kilometres away over
the hills north west of the valley of Kathmandu. A parade is held in the
Hanuman Dhoka Royal Palace. The fulpati, i.e. the procession bearing the
jamara and other items necessary for the tika, is brought from Gorkha
after a three day walk and most of the government officials are eagerly
waiting for the fulpati parade to arrive at Rani Phokari in the afternoon.
Rani Phokari area is filled with hundreds of government officials
meticulously attired in the traditional formal dress.
In fulpati, the royal kalash filled with holy water,
banana stalks, jamara and sugar cane tied with red cloth is carried by
Brahmans from the ancestral royal house on a decorated palanquin under a
gold tipped and embroidered umbrella, led by the military platoon of the
royal priest. The government officials also join the fulpati parade.
Whilst the fulpati parade is heading towards the old royal palace, His
Majesty the King observes the ceremonies taking place in Tundikhel, the
army parade ground in the center of the city. There a majestic display of
the Royal Nepalese Army is held. Guns are fired and the entire valley
echoes with the resonance sound of it. The firing continues for ten to
fifteen minutes to honour the fulpati. By the time the function ends the
royal fulpati is already taken inside the Dashain ghar in Hanuman Dhoka
Palace. With this the Dashain feasting starts.
The eighth day is called the 'Maha Asthami'. The
fervour of worship and sacrifice to Durga and Kali increases. On this day
many orthodox Hindus will be fasting. Sacrifices are held in almost every
house through out the day. The night of the eighth day is called 'Kal
Ratri', the dark night. Hundreds of goats, sheep and buffaloes are
sacrificed at the mother goddess temples. In the darkness of the night
Durga temples, army barracks, and old palaces all over Nepal hold
sacrifices for the mother goddess. The sacrifice continues till dawn. The
old palace in Basantapur Hanuman Dhoka, is active throughout the night
with worships in almost every courtyard. While the puja is being carried
out great feasts are held in the homes of common people where large amount
of meat are consumed.
The ninth day is called 'Nawami'. The Taleju temple at
Hanuman Dhoka is opened for the public only once a year on this day.
Thousands of people go and pay their respect to the goddess day. Temples
of mother goddess are filled with people from dawn till dusk. On this day
the official military sacrifices are held in the 'Kot' courtyard at
Hanuman Dhoka. The government allows foreigners to witness this function
so hundreds of tourists and diplomats eagerly gather here. Animals mostly
black buffaloes are slaughtered by hundreds to honour Durga the goddess of
victory and might and to seek her blessing. Military bands play war tunes,
guns boom and officers with beautifully decorated medals in full uniform
stand there. When the function ends the courtyard is filled ankle deep
with blood. On this very day the god Vishwas Karma, the God of creativity
is also worshiped. All factories, vehicles, any machinery instruments and
anything from which we make a living are worshiped. We also give
sacrifices to all moving machinery like cars, aeroplanes, trucks etc. to
get the blessing from goddess Durga for protection for vehicles and their
occupants against accidents during the year. The entire day is
colourful.
The tenth day is the 'Dashami'. On this day we take
tika and jamara from our elders and receive their blessing. We visit our
elders in their home and get tika from them while our younger ones come to
our home to receive blessing from us. The importance of Dasain also lies
in the fact that on this day family members from far off and distant
relatives come for a visit as well as to receive tika from the head of the
family. This function continues for four days. His Majesty also receives
tika from the royal priests and then gives on tika to his loyal subjects.
Thousands of loyal Nepalese people as well as foreigners also receive tika
from His Majesty the King as this is said to be auspicious. After four
days of rushing around and meeting your relatives Dashain ends on the full
moon day, the fifteenth day. In the last day people stay at home and rest.
The full moon day is also called 'Kojagrata' meaning 'who is awake'. The
Hindu goddess of wealth Laxmi is worshipped. On this day the goddess Laxmi
is given an invitation to visit each and everyone.
After Dashain the nation settles back to normal. After
receiving the blessing of goddess Durga, people are ready to work and
acquire virtue, power and wealth. Dashain thus is not only the longest
festival but also the most anticipated one among all the festivals of
Nepal.
Dashain, the biggest and most widely celebrated national
festival in Nepal, usually falls in early October. It begins with
Ghasthapana. Of the two full weeks of celebrations, the 8th, 9th and 10th
are the most eventful and auspicious days.
The main deity worshipped during Dashain is Goddess Durga. On the
9th day, thousands of devotees visit important Durga temples to worship
her. On the night of the 10th day, swords-wielding men come out in
thestreets with big bands of traditional music. Such fanfares take place
at Thamel in Kathmandu and at Mangal Bazaar in Patan. Back to
Top
Tihar, also known as Diwali or Deepavali, is the
festival of lights in Nepal. The celebrations continue for five days. It
is an annual festival celebrated in the bright blue days of autumn. The
festival begins with the worship of crows, followed by the worship of dogs
on the 2nd day. On the 3rd day, Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, is
worshipped. On the 5th day, one's own soul is worshipped. Sisters also
worship theirbrothers on this day. This is called Bhai Tika, and is a
great day and the grand finale to Tihar. Back to Top
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