A tiny country Nepal is not only a land of mountains but also a country full of colorful festivals. People here celebrate many festivals in a year. Onesupen, we have a popular saying that "We celebrate a festival 366 days in a year", which means we have many festivals. The most significant festival for Nepalese Hindus Dashain comes once a year. Similarly, Tihar is also another major festival celebrated after Dashain. Besides, Buddha Jayanti (the celebration of the birth of Buddha); Maha Shivaratri (a festival of Lord Shiva, during Maha Shivaratri festivities, some people consume excessive drinks and smoke charas), ShreePanchami, Nagpanchami, Teej, Maghe Sankranti, JanaiPurnima, Krishnaastami, Chaite Dashain, Kuse Aunsi, Guru Purnima, Mother's day, Father's day, Indra Jatra, Ghode Jatra, Buddha Jayanti, Phagu Purnima, etc. are major festivals of the country.
Festivals in Nepal
Buddha Jayanti
Buddha’s birth anniversary is celebrated every year during Baishakha Purnima (Full Moon of April or May). On this day people swarm in Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, and other Gumba ( Monastery) to pay homage to Lord Buddha and also visit Buddha’s birthplace in Lumbini and chant prayers and burn butter lamps. Lord Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal as Prince Siddhartha Gautam ...
Read moreDashain Festival
Dashain is the biggest festival of Nepal and it is celebrated in the month of Ashwin (late September or early October). It is the longest and the most auspicious festival in Nepal and is celebrated by Nepalese of all castes and creeds throughout the country. The festival is celebrated for fifteen days. People worship manifestations of Goddess Durga for the ...
Read moreDipawali (Tihar)
Dipawali named Deepawali or Diwali or Tihar, the festival of lights, is the second biggest festival of Nepal and it falls in the month of Kartik (September-October). During this festival, people worship Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth. The festival is celebrated for five days but the major celebration occurs in the last three days. On the first day and second days, it ...
Read moreGaijatra
Nepal is a naturally gifted beautiful country with geographical diversity and is culturally affluent. Almost every day is significant for fasts and festivals in the year. Gaijatra is the most important festival in Nepal. The festival of "Gai Jatra", the procession of cows, is generally celebrated in the Nepalese month of Bhadra (late July or early August). The Festival of ...
Read moreGhode Jatra
Ghode Jatra, or the Horse Racing Day, falls in the month of Chaitra (late March or early April). A grand horse parade takes place at Tundikhel, the central point of the city. According to folklores, this festival is organized to celebrate the victory over a demon named Tundi who resides over the meadow, today known as Tundikhel. Tundi was a ...
Read moreHoli Festival (Phagu Purnima)
Fagu Purnima is the most popular festival in Nepal with colors friendships and love. This is a festival calling for the spring season. Laterally, Fagu Purnima is a composition of two different words; Phagu (the name of the 11th month of Nepali month Phagun) and Purnima (full moon). People describe it in other ways as well, Phagu means sacred Red ...
Read moreLhosar
Several indigenous communities in hilly and mountain areas celebrate Lhosar as the New Year festival. Festive activities like singing, dancing, and feasting are observed across the country. Losar is celebrated for 15 days, with the main celebrations on the first three days. On the first day of Losar, a beverage called changkol is made from Chhaang (a Tibetan cousin of ...
Read moreMaghe Sankranti
Maghe Sankranti is the beginning of the holy month of Magh, usually mid-January. It brings an end to the ill-omened month of Poush (mid-December) when all religious ceremonies are forbidden. Even if it is considered the coldest day of the year, it marks the coming of warmer weather and better days of health and fortune. This day is said to ...
Read moreShivaratri
This day is a celebration dedicated to Lord Shiva. Hindus all over the world know Shiva through different names and forms. The country has thousands of idols and monuments, which glorify his name, the most common one being the Shiva Linga or the phallus of Shiva that represents him. For it is the Shiva linga that Hindus regard as the ...
Read moreMani Rimdu
Mani Rimdu is the biggest festival of the year for the Sherpas of the Khumbu region. Sherpas from the Khumbu region congregate at Thyangboche Monastery, the picturesque monastery situated on a spur at 3,870 meters. The three-day celebrations of Mani Rimdu follow the ten days of non-stop prayer sessions addressed to the patron deities seeking blessing from the god of ...
Read moreNag Panchami
Nepalese people have great respect for Nagapanchami Day which falls every year on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Shravan (July) / Shravan Shukla Panchami. This year Nagpanchami falls on 21 August 2023. People celebrate this day with great feelings and faith in the eight Gotra (clan) of the Nagas, namely; Ananta, Basuki, Padma, Mahapadam, Taksar, Kulir, Karkat, ...
Read moreNepali New Year
Ideally, New Year celebrates on the occasion of the post time of the current year and welcomes the next Year. Bikram Sambat or Bikram Era is used by the Nepalese Government as the official calendar. Bikram Sambat was established by the legendary emperor Vikramaditya and is 57 years (56 years 7 months) ahead of the BCE (Before Christ Era/Before Common Era) ...
Read moreRato Machhendranath Jatra
This is the longest as well as the most important festival of Patan. It begins with several days of ceremonies and the formation of a wooden-wheeled chariot at Pulchowk, near the Ashoka Stupa in the month of Baisakh (March-April). The chariot bears the shrine of the Rato Macchendranath and carries a very tall spire made from bamboo poles raised from ...
Read moreHaritalika Teej
Teej is the fasting festival of women in Nepal. It falls in the month of August or early September. Married women observe Teej fast to honor Lord Shiva and for the long and healthy life of their husbands. Unmarried girls also observe fast on this day for a good husband. Teej celebrations last for three pious days. Traditional dances and ...
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