Festivals Of Nepal

                            Festivals Of Nepal

Nepal is a multicultural, multilingual and multi-religious nation. People belonging to different caste, creed and varied ethnic groups reside in this countryNepal is not only the land of mountains and hills but it is also the land of festivals. There are hundreds of  festivals celebrated in Nepal every year. While the national festivals have fixed dates, religious festivals are set by astrologers following the lunar calendar. The best part about the festivals in Nepal is that all the events are celebrated with the same enthusiasm and galore the way it used to be hundreds of years ago when people had no other means for recreation and entertainment.
The list of most important festivals celebrated in Nepal are as follows:

  1. Dashain                                                                                           
    People celebrating Holi
  2. Tihar
  3.  Tamu Loshar
  4. Maghi (Maghe Sankranti)
  5. Chhat
  6. Teej
  7. New Year (Naya Barsa)
  8. Buddha Jayanti
  9. Naag Panchami
  10. Krishna Janmastami
  11.  Eid
  12. Ramajan
  13. Saraswati Puja
  14. Bisket Jatra
  15. Mata Tirtha Aaunsi                                                   
    Dog Puja during Tihar
  16. Saune Sankranti
  17. Gai Jatra                                                                      
  18. Janai Purnima
  19. Rishi Panchami
  20. Indra Jatra
  21. Udhauli and Ubhauli
  22. Sonam Loshar
  23. Gyalbo Loshar
  24. Fagu Purnima(Holi)
  25. Ghode Jatra, etc.
All the festivals have their own significance and all Nepalese celebrate each others' festivals with equal joy and enthusiasm. Out of all festivals Dashain and Tihar are regarded as the most important ones. Approximately for one month all the private institutions are closed and most of the people living anywhere return back to their home during this time. This is the time when all members of the family unite and celebrate. But this does not mean that other festivals are less important rather it's like they(dashain and tihar) are the festivals during which all Nepalese get longest national holidays.

                                   A Short Description About Dashain

Dashain symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Dashain is the 15-day-long festival and holidays of Nepal. It is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese Hindu people throughout the globe. It is not only the longest festival of the country, but also the one which is most anticipated. For followers of Shaktism, it represents the bare victory of the goddess, Shakti. In Hindu mythology, the demon Mahishasur had created terror in the Devaloka (the world where gods live according to Hindu mythology) but Durga killed the demon. The first nine days of Dashain symbolizes the battle which took place between the different manifestations of Durga and Mahishasura. The tenth day is the day when Durga finally defeated him. For other Hindus, this festival symbolizes the victory of Ram over Ravan as recounted in the Ramayana.




                        
                                   A Short Description About Tihar

The festival is celebrated from Trayodashi of Kartik Krishna to Kartik Shukla Dwitiya every year. Tihar in general signifies the festival of lights, where diyas are lit both inside and outside the houses to make it illuminate at night. The five-day festival 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 crow, cow and dog, who maintain an intense relationship with the humans. People make patterns on the floor of living rooms or courtyards using materials such as colored rice, dry flour, colored sand or flower petals outside of their house, called "Rangoli" which is meant to be sacred welcoming areas for the Hindu deities. During the celebrations gamblers are found in the streets and some gamblers are known to make extreme bets such as staking their properties and some times their own daughter and wives jewelries.


                                   

                                   A Short Description About Holi

Holi  is a popular ancient Hindu festival, originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is celebrated predominantly in India and Nepal, but has also spread to other areas of Asia and parts of the Western world through the diaspora from the Indian subcontinent. Holi is popularly known as the Indian "festival of spring", the "festival of colors", or the "festival of love". The festival signifies the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. The festival also celebrates the beginning of a good spring harvest season.



                                        A Short Description About Buddha Jayanti

Buddha Jayanti is a special day for both Hindus and Buddhists in Nepal. On this day people celebrate the life of Lord Buddha; his Birth, Enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana (Death).As per widely held beliefs, Maya Devi, the Queen of Shakya King Suddhodhana of Kapilvastu, gave birth to the Prince Siddhartha while passing through the Lumbini Garden, on the day of "Vaishakha Poornima" (full-moon day of May) in 623 BC.In India, Buddha Purnima is celebrated by paying a visit to common Viharas, where Buddhists observe a longer than usual and full length Buddhist sutra, which is similar to a service. 

 
                               This is all about the festivals of Nepal.

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