Nepal is a land of diverse cultures, and its festivals reflect the rich heritage of various ethnic groups and religions. Many of these festivals are deeply rooted in Hinduism and Buddhism, though Nepal’s multicultural population celebrates a wide range of traditions.
1. Dashain (Vijaya Dashami)
- When: September/October (15 days)
- Significance: The biggest and most important Hindu festival in Nepal, Dashain celebrates the victory of good over evil. It honors the goddess Durga for defeating the demon Mahishasura.
- How It’s Celebrated: Families come together to worship, exchange blessings, and feast. People fly kites, play traditional games, and receive tika (a mixture of rice, yogurt, and vermillion) on their foreheads as a blessing from elders. The festival lasts 15 days, with the 10th day, “Vijaya Dashami,” being the most significant.
2. Tihar (Deepawali)
- When: October/November (5 days)
- Significance: Also known as the “Festival of Lights,” Tihar honors Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, along with animals like crows, dogs, cows, and oxen, which are worshipped on specific days.
- How It’s Celebrated: Houses are decorated with oil lamps and colorful rangoli designs to welcome prosperity. On the third day, “Laxmi Puja,” people light up their homes to invite the goddess of wealth. The last day, Bhai Tika, celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.
3. Holi (Festival of Colors)
- When: March (Full moon of the Hindu month Falgun)
- Significance: Holi celebrates the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil, particularly the burning of the demoness Holika. It’s also a time to celebrate love and community.
- How It’s Celebrated: Holi is famous for its color-throwing tradition, where people smear each other with powdered colors and splash water. It’s a joyous festival where everyone, regardless of background, joins in singing, dancing, and playing with colors.
4. Buddha Jayanti
- When: April/May (Full moon day of the month Baisakh)
- Significance: This is a major Buddhist festival marking the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha, who was born in Lumbini, Nepal.
- How It’s Celebrated: Devotees gather at Buddhist stupas and monasteries to offer prayers, light butter lamps, and perform rituals. Special ceremonies are held in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, and at Buddhist sites like Swayambhunath and Boudhanath in Kathmandu.
5. Teej
- When: August/September
- Significance: Teej is a women’s festival celebrating marital bliss, the well-being of husbands, and the purification of body and soul. It honors the goddess Parvati and her union with Lord Shiva.
- How It’s Celebrated: Women dress in red saris and gather to sing, dance, and fast for the day. They visit temples to worship Shiva and seek blessings for their husbands and families. It’s a vibrant and joyful festival for women.
6. Maghe Sankranti
- When: January
- Significance: Maghe Sankranti marks the winter solstice and the beginning of longer days. It celebrates the sun’s journey towards the northern hemisphere.
- How It’s Celebrated: Families come together to eat special foods like sesame seeds (til), molasses (chaku), ghee, and yam, which are believed to bring warmth and health during the cold winter months. Ritual baths in rivers are also common on this day.
7. Gai Jatra
- When: August/September
- Significance: This unique festival, particularly popular in the Kathmandu Valley, is dedicated to honoring the deceased. Families who have lost a loved one in the past year participate in processions, with participants often dressed as cows.
- How It’s Celebrated: It’s both a mourning and humor-filled festival, with participants parading in costumes through the streets. The cow symbolizes the soul’s guide in the afterlife, while the festival also allows for satire and humorous performances.
8. Indra Jatra
- When: September
- Significance: Indra Jatra is celebrated in honor of Lord Indra, the god of rain, and marks the end of the monsoon season. It’s one of Kathmandu’s most important festivals.
- How It’s Celebrated: The festival lasts for eight days and includes elaborate processions, masked dances, and the display of the living goddess Kumari. The festival is characterized by chariot processions through the streets and the raising of a ceremonial pole to honor Indra.
9. Chhath
- When: October/November
- Significance: Chhath is a significant Hindu festival, particularly for the Madhesi people of southern Nepal, dedicated to worshipping the Sun God for sustaining life on Earth.
- How It’s Celebrated: Devotees observe fasting, take holy dips in rivers, and offer prayers to the rising and setting sun. The rituals are performed near water bodies, and offerings include fruits and sweets.
10. Lhosar (Tibetan New Year)
- When: Varies (usually February/March)
- Significance: Lhosar is the Tibetan and Sherpa New Year, marking the beginning of the lunar calendar. There are three types of Lhosar celebrated in Nepal: Sonam Lhosar (Tamang), Gyalpo Lhosar (Sherpa, Tibetan), and Tamu Lhosar (Gurung).
- How It’s Celebrated: People celebrate with family gatherings, feasting, and traditional dances. Monasteries are decorated, and prayers are offered for good fortune in the coming year. The festival is especially vibrant in Boudhanath Stupa and Swayambhunath in Kathmandu.
11. Janai Purnima (Raksha Bandhan)
- When: August
- Significance: Janai Purnima, also known as Raksha Bandhan, is a Hindu festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters, as well as a day for Brahmin men to change their sacred thread (Janai).
- How It’s Celebrated: Brothers and sisters exchange blessings and gifts, and sisters tie rakhi (a sacred thread) around their brothers’ wrists as a symbol of protection. Brahmin men perform rituals at sacred rivers and change their Janai.
