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festivals in nepal

A Guide To Newari Festivals - Part I

A Guide To Newari Festivals - Part I

Newari communities in Nepal celebrate numerous festivals every year. And it seems Newars always have a reason to celebrate. Several reasons: rich culture and heritage, honoring deities, marking the agricultural calendar, celebrate events from ancient mythology, and to emphasis family and community.

Tales of Samyak Mahadan

Tales of Samyak Mahadan

Samyak Mahadan is a Buddhist alms-giving festival, also known as the festival of Dipankara Budhha is celebrated once every five years in Patan, Lalitpur. The festival has been important for Buddhist Newars, as it has become a way of practising daan dharma(alms-giving).

Tales of Biskah Jatra

Tales of Biskah Jatra

Bisket Jatra, also known as Biskah Jatra(festival) is a weeklong yearly occasion of Newari community in Bhaktapur. Among many other popular festivals in Kathmandu Valley, Biskah Jatra is celebrated with special rites and rituals in the historical and cultural city Bhaktapur.

Pahan Charhe - Festival in Nepal

Pahan Charhe - Festival in Nepal

Pahan meaning guests and Charhe meaning on the fourteenth day of the lunar fortnight, the avid tunes of the festival can be heard for three consecutive days in the old towns of the city of Kathmandu. This three-day festival brings together the community in a unique manner and has helped build communal strength and friendship.

Feasts for Maghe Sankranti

Feasts for Maghe Sankranti

Maghe Sankranti, or Makar Sankranti, is one of the most auspicious religious festivals in Nepal. Celebrated on the first day of the month of Magh (January/February), Maghe Sankranti is typically a day spent with family, basking in the sun, and pampering oneself with food and oil massages - it ensures that one is well fed and nourished until the winter lasts!

Yomari Punhi

Yomari Punhi

Yomari Punhi, a Newari festival in Nepal is celebrated every year by Newari Communities marking the end of the rice harvest during the full moon day of November/December. It is said that eating Yomari or Yamari, a steamed dumpling made with rice flour with sweet such as Chaku inside takes away the cold.

Ga: Pyakhan: The Dance of The Asta Matrika’s

Ga: Pyakhan: The Dance of The Asta Matrika’s

Ga: Pyakhan in Patan(Asta Matrika Dance) is popular among the locals of Patan. The dance of Eight Mother Goddesses, deities of Hindus, is performed by male Buddhist dance during the Nepalese biggest Dashain festival. The dance is staged in the royal court of Mulchowk, inside the Patan Durbar Square of Lalitpur. It is believed that the dance is performed as a worship of the deities to bring the prosperity and fortune to the people.

The Tales of Sikali Festival

The Tales of Sikali Festival

While the entire nation prepares for the celebration of the biggest festival Dashain, local of Khokana village located to the south of Lalitpur gears up for the festival of Rudrayani known as Sikali Jatra. Festival is celebrated by a section of the ethnic Newari community with a skit presentation in a form of archaic storytelling with traditional music and individuals dressed in a godly attire adorned with the masks of deities and demons.

Places to fathom this Tihar

Places to fathom this Tihar

Tihar festival or the festival of Lights is Nepals' second-biggest festival after the Dashain festival. Tihar is considered to be one of the most fun-filled and celebrated festivals in Nepal. And, the festival falls under the best tourist season with the fantastic weather. One can take a tour of the Kathmandu valley and witness the majesty of the city during Tihar.

The Legend of Majipa

The Legend of Majipa

Majipa Lakhey in Newar mythology is the protective deity of all children in the Valley. During the annual festival of Indra Jatra, the dance of Majipa Lakhey is performed by the clan of Ranjitkars of Kathmandu with a traditional drum (Dhime) and a pair of Bhusya (pair of cymbals) with straps to fasten around the wrists. Devotees during the dance performance try to manage a touch the Lakhey’s rich display to take the blessings.

The Festival of Indra

The Festival of Indra

Indra Jatra, one of the highly celebrated street festival in Nepal marks beginning of the festival season and the beginning of a tourist season in Nepal. The festival is celebrated in the oldest town Basantapur Durbar Square or Hanuman Dhoka in Kathmandu by the local community with huge arrangements. The chariot of Kumari, the Living Goddess, is taken out in procession through the streets. People wear masks of various goddess and exhibit by dancing in the streets on music played with traditional musical instruments.

The Tales of Gatha Muga

The Tales of Gatha Muga

A unique festival celebrated by the Newar communities in Nepal, Gatha-Muga or Gathe-Mangal is an ancient festival celebrated to chase away the evil spirit and usher the good fortune every year on Shrawan Shukla Chaturdashi of the lunar calendar.