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Maghe Sankranti : (January)
A Sankranti signifies the first day of any month in the
Nepali calendar year. Makar means Capricorn. Makar
Sankranti, therefore, means the first day of the month
when the sun enters that part of the zodiac which is
symbolized by Capricorn. It starts on its northward
journey in its heavenly course on this day, thus
announcing the commencement of the Uttarayan. In the
Nepalese belief this day marks the division of the
Winter and Summer solstice. Bathing in rivers is
prescribed for this day, especially at the river
confluence and feasting with rich foods of special
preparation is common in the family.
Sri Panchami or Basant Panchami : (February)
Sri Panchami announces the advent of the spring season
in Nepal. On this day a religious function known as
Basanta Shrawan is held at the court-yard of Hanuman
Dhoka Palace. On this occasion Geet Govinda (Verses
written by Poet Jaya Dev) is recited by the royal priest
and hyms are sung by a concert of musician in
accompaniment with musical instruments. His Majesty the
King graces the function.
It is the day consecrated to honour Saraswati, the Hindu
Goddess of learning, throughout Nepal. Saraswati shrines
all over the Kingdom are filled with the crowd of school
children and other students on this day. Goddess
Saraswati reigns over the realm of speech, letters, arts
and sciences, and all her tools are worshipped
accordingly, pens, ink, books, pencils, and spinning
wheels. Around the city are seen numerous wedding
processions. Saraswati temples at Swayambhu and Neel
Saraswati at Gairidhara are worth visiting during the
morning.
Maha Shivaratri : (February)
This is the most famous and celebrated festival of Nepal
which attracts large crowds from far-Flung places both
in India and Nepal. The festival as its very name
suggests, is consecrated in honor of Lord Shiva. It is
observed by bathing and holding of a religious fast. All
Shiva shrines become the places of visit for dracaena,
but the greatest attraction of all is held by the temple
of Pashupatinath in Katmandu. One gets to see hundreds
of thousand of devout Hindus coming to visit the temple
of Pashupati on this day. On this day religious Hindus
worship Lord Shiva by offering flowers, garlands, 'bel
patra' (leaves of 'bet' f rub), fruits, coins and so on
and also by chanting prayers and hymns. Among them are a
large number of Sadhus and ascetics. Many people like to
keep awake for the whole night keeping vigilance over an
oil lamp burnt to please Shiva. Children are seen
keeping awake similarly over a bonfire in many
localities. In the afternoon an official function is
held to celebrate this festival at Tundikhel. The Royal
Nepalese Army organises a show in which volleys of
gunfire are sounded. The ceremony is witnessed by His
Majesty the King.
Phagu Poornima or Holy :
(March-April)
Holi is the festival of colour. It is observed for eight
days just before the full moon of Phalgun during which
time townsmen indulge in colour throwing at each other.
The festival of colour is always heralded by the
sticking of wooden pole known as chir with colourful
streamers beside the old royal palace at Basantapur by
the arrangement of the Government Religious Endowment (Guthi)
Office. This festival is observed with most joy and
gaity in the Terai region of the country. The festival
is terminated with the burning of the pole on the night
preceding the Phalgun full moon.
Ghodejatra : (March-April)
Ghodejatra or the festival of horse is held on-the
fourteenth of the dark half of the Chaitra (sometime in
March or April). The festival has two sides of its
celebration. Its cultural side involves the Newars of
Kathmandu who celebrate it for several days. The idols
of the gods of many localities are taken in a procession
in their area in portable chariots. Every household is
feasting at this time. A demon called 'Gurumumpa'is also
propitiated at this time in Tundikhel. This festival is
called Pasachare. The other aspect of the festival is
provided by the function organised by the Royal Nepalese
Army at Tundikhel in the afternoon of the main day.
Horse race and acrobatic shows are presented at this
time in which His Majesty the King is present. A meeting
of lumadi, Bhadrakali, Kankeshwari and Bhairav takes
place during the day time at the main celebration at
Ason. The deities are brought in their portable
chariots. The same festival is repeated at night in
Tundikhel.
Nava Varsha (New Year) : (April 13 or 14th)
The Nepalese festivals follow round the traditional
,religious' Lunar Calender in the same sequence. An
exception is New Year Day, which always fails in the
middle of April, observed throughout Nepal as the first
day of the official Nepalese solar Calendar, i.e., the
first day of Baisakh. This day is an official holiday
for Nepal. The most important New year festival in the
Valley is held at Bhaktapur City, located fourteen kms.
on east of Kathmandu. This festival is known as Bisket
Jatra meaning the festival after the death of serpent.
The main attraction of the festival is the erection of
the 'lingo', a ceremonial pole, a thick, shorn
tree-trunk some eighty feet in length. This is an
exciting operation, for the pole, supported by bamboos
and pulled by heavy ropes, must be made to rest in the
centre hole of a large pile of cemented rocks. A large
crowds from other town of the Valley assemble to watch
this festival. During the week Bhairav, Bhadrakaii and
other goddesses are dragged in chariots in the town.
This is the biggest festival of Bhaktapur.
Festival of Seto Machchhendranath (March-April)
This is a four-day chariot festival held in honour of
the White (Seto) Machchhendranath (to be distinguished
from the Red (Rato) form of the same divinity in Patan),
who is actually the Padmapani Lokeshwara, whose
permanent shrine is situated at Janabahal in Kel Tole in
the middle of the old bazaar in Kathmandu. A huge
chariot of wood supported on four large wheels and
carrying a tall spire covered with green foliage is made
ready for receiving the image of the divinity on this
occasion and for dragging in the old part of city. There
is such a spontaneous and heavy turn out of the devout
people to pay obeisance of this god, who is also said to
be the 'embodiment of compassion', at this time.
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Festivals
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