Festivals
A trip to Nepal, nestled between the huge Himalayas and the Indian plains, appears almost relaxing. Nepal, which is deeply spiritual, resilient in spirit, and breathtakingly beautiful, should be on the bucket list of anyone looking to unplug from the city and immerse themselves in the native experience.
With Hindus making up the majority of Nepal's population, Dashain (Dushera) is the country's largest celebration. Dashain is held to honour Goddess Durga's victory over the monster Mahishasur. Tihar is a festival of lights and colour devoted to the Goddess Laxmi. Other notable festivals are Buddha Jayanti, Maha Shivratri, Janai Purnima, Gai Jatra, and Teej. Different clans within the religious sectors may have subtle differences.
Losar
This celebration is mostly observed by the Tibetan residents of the country, who gather to commemorate the lunar New Year. It is observed over three days, with cities and towns coming alive with festivities and prayers at Tibetan monasteries. Set aside a day to go from one location to another.
Shivratri
On this day, the Hindu community commemorates Lord Shiva. Pashupatinath becomes the centre of all religious activities during Shivratri. In fact, many sadhus (holy men) travel from far away to pay homage to the Lord here. It is recommended that you come at the temple early because the lines to offer prayers at the sanctum might be rather long.
Holi
Holi, a Hindu festival, is widely celebrated in Nepal. The celebrations last a week and are filled with colour, song, music, and sweets. On the festival's opening day, a pole known as 'chir' is installed. This bamboo pole is trimmed with shreds of clothing that represent good luck charms. The mythology of the chir dates back to when Lord Krishna teased his beloved Radha and her associates. This is an excellent time to learn about the culture of the country.
Buddha Jayanti
Buddha Jayanti commemorates the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who gave up his material possessions to become the founder of Buddhism. Buddhist monasteries are a must-see attraction nowadays. The Boudhanath temple is particularly crowded as the celebrations reach their zenith. Dance, music, and colours add to the festive atmosphere.
Janai Purnima
The Hindus of Nepal commemorate Janai Purnima, also known as the Sacred Thread Festival. This is also referred to as Raksha Bandhan. There are two reasons to celebrate this. One is the day when Brahmin boys and men wear a new sacred thread across their bodies. The other is to appreciate the purity and security that sisters and brothers share.
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