NEPALESE FESTIVALS

Diwash Bhusal
Jason S Kirkmeyer
International English 1210
9th September 2009



Nepal is a culturally rich country . There are people from different religions , casts and ethnic having different lifestyle , food , beliefs , language and food . It has a variety of festivals celebrated by different people every year . There are different religions like Hindu , Muslim , Buddhist , Sikh and Christian . Nepal has a great number of Hindu people so it is believed to be Hindu country . There are many temples all over the country that represents different religions of our country .

Being a Hindu country , there are uncountable festivals of Hindu celebrated each year and Maha Shivaratri is one of the important festival which occurs in the month of February . It is a festival where lord shiva is worshipped . In Hindu epic lord Shiva is believed to be creator of this world , Nature , living beings and other gods. so people from India and other countries come to Nepal to visit the Pashupatinath temple of lord Shiva . There will be a long queue to worship lord Shiva at Pashupatinath temple. Pashupatinath is even termed as one of the biggest Hindu temple of lord Shiva. So , me and my friends used to visit Pashupatinath to see the crowd and enjoy the festival.

There is a festival of water and color known as Holi which is celebrated on the month of February . This festival is especially enjoyed by young people . On this day people wander in streets on groups with different colors smeared all over them . People also carry water balloons to throw at each other and people walking down the streets . They meet their friends, throw colors and water balloons on them and wish them shouting Happy Holi . We also used to gather in groups and visit our friends home to wish them Holi . Its a three day festival which is a good way to enjoy with friends.

As lord Buddha was born in Nepal so there is large population of Buddhist people celebrating Lhosar as their biggest festival . Lhosar means new year of Buddhist community . The different monasteries of our country are decorated with colorful flags and they also rhyme their holy songs and perform dances . They welcome their new year with family gathering and wearing new clothes, jewelries and also by giving gifts . I had alot of Buddhist friends who used to invite me in Lhosar . The best thing I love about this festival was the food , cultural dances and the colorful flags all around.

Buddhist also celebrate Buddha Jayanti . it is celebrated on the birth date of lord Buddha . it is also known as Buddha Purnima . it falls on the month of April . lord budhha is the founder of Buddhism and was born in Lumbini that lies in the western region of nepal . so on Buddha purnima the place will be crowded by monks and Buddhists . So it is awesome to be at Lumbini celebrating Buddha Purnima because the place with monks is so peaceful . I would prefer everyone to visit lumbini on Buddha Purnima with their loved ones.

Nepal has its official calendar . The first month is Baisakh that falls on mid of April . This very first date of Baisakh is known as “Navavarsha” which means Newyear . People prefer to celebrate it by their ownways . Some like to drink while other organize picnics , parties , dance events . People send card and gifts to beloved ones so that the coming year will be full of happiness and prosperity for them.

There is Gaijatra which is celebrated on the month of August. It lasts for 10 days . This Festival is famous for singing dancing and comedy . People visit to different comedy, singing & dancing events to enjoy this festival . We can even watch shows on tv on this festival but I would watch it live .

Dashain is the believed as the main and biggest festival of people in Nepal . The belief behind this festival was the victory of goddess Durga who killed the evil . So , it is celebrated as a win on evil . Dashain is celebrated in the month of September / October . It lasts for ten days . The 1st day is called Ghatasthapana , 7th is called Fulpati , 8th day is called Astami , 9th day is called Nawami . On this day people gift goats , buffaloes , vegetables or birds to goddess . Lastly , the final 10th day is Bijaya Dashami or Dashain . People wear new clothes and go to temple to worship goddess Durga . then at home we receive Tika from our elders . We also get a lot of cash as gifts from our elders . This festival brings home all the members who are far away from their home and family . The whole country will be in enthusiastic holiday mood during this festival. Different people have their own style of celebrating this festival. Some people like to celebrate with family by talking to them or making different foods at home . While other like to celebrate with friends by playing cards and drinking . I also enjoy this festival because each of our relatives are home for this festival so I get a chance to hang around with my cousins . We get new clothes , variety of foods , and lots of cash which is the main reason we like it .

The other festival is Deepawali which is also known as Tihar . It lies just after Dashain on mid of October . This festival last for four days . The 1st day is called Kaag Tihar where we worship a crow . The 2nd one is Kukur Tihar where we worship dogs . The 3rd one is Goru Tihar where we worship cow and the final day is called Bhai Tika . It a festival for sisters who pray for their brother’s safety and prosperity . I don’t celebrate this festival because I don’t have any sisters to celebrate it . The most interesting act in this festival is on evening which is known as Dheusi-Bhailo program where people make a group and visit others home to sing songs and dance and they get reward for that . This is what I like about this festival.

We also have a festival where we worship snakes and that is known as Naag Panchami . in Hindu culture they own a prominent place because of the stories and fables in Hindu Mythologies . it is believed that lord Bishnu reclines on snake while sleeping in the sea . People feed milk to snake so that the snake won’t harm them all their life and they worship it in honor of snakes .

I have just mentioned some of our big festivals but beside this we also have many festivals that is not celebrated by all people . The main thing I like about this festival is we get public holidays . We can spend time with our relatives who are far from us . We can hang out with friends like a get together . People are always busy with their busy schedule so festivals are the only time when we can find everyone spending time with their families and friends . So , I always used to look forward for this festival . Now , I am miles away from home , relatives , friends . I know it will not be the same what I had at Nepal . Festival celebrated at Nepal are not celebrated here or we don’t have any holiday for it but being in a small community of Nepali over here it will be fun to celebrate festivals over here .