Dashain Festivals in Nepal

Nepal is not only the land of mountains; it is also the land of festivals. There are more than 50 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 of entertainment.

New Year: It is known as “Navavarsha” in Nepal. Nepal has its official calendar that begins from the first day of the first month Baisakh. This very first day is observed as Nepali New Year which usually falls in the second week of April. People go for picnics, have get-togethers and celebrate the day socializing in various ways as this day is also a national holiday.

Lhosar (Tibetan New Year): This is the New Year of the Tibetans and Sherpas of Nepal which falls in February. The Buddhist monasteries in Kathmandu like Boudhanath and Swayambhunath are decorated with eye catching colorful prayer flags pulling the crowd. The people perform their traditional dances and welcome their New Year with feasts and family gatherings wearing all the new clothes and finest jewelries and exchanging gifts.

Saraswati Puja: Saraswati Puja or Shree Panchami is a day to celebrate the birthday of Saraswati – the Goddess of Learning. This is a day when people from school students to scholars worship their pens and books to please the Goddess and expect her favor in their studies so they become wise and knowledgeable. People also throng around the idol of Goddess Saraswati, especially in Swayambhunath and offer flowers, sweets, fruits, etc. On this day, small children are taught to read and write and people write on the stones and slabs with chalks and pencils. This day which falls between January/February is regarded as a very auspicious day for marriages too as it is believed that Goddess Saraswati herself blesses the couples. Normally it is the astrologers who fix the marriage date and time in Nepal.

Shivaratri (Maha Shivaratri): Shivaratri or the night of Lord Shiva that falls sometime between February/March is one of the major festivals of Nepal. This day is dedicated to the Lord of the Lords – Lord Shiva or Mahadev who lived in Mt. Kailash in the Himalayas. Lord Shiva is the most worshipped God in the Hindu religion. More than 100,000 of Hindu devotees from India and Southeast Asia throng weeks ahead of the festival and gather in and around Pashupatinath temple – one of the holiest shrines of the Hindus in Kathmandu to pay their homage to Lord Shiva on his birthday. “Pashupatinath” literally means “the Lord of animals” as Lord Shiva is considered as the guardian and protector of everything that exists in the Himalayan Kingdom. On this holy day, worshippers take dip and bath in the holy river at early dawn and fast for the whole day and stay around fire to keep them warm as it is still winter in Nepal. The devotees also freely indulge in using marijuana and other intoxicating substances as these things are believed to please Lord Shiva and marijuana use is legal only on this sacred day. More ...

Holi: This festival of water and colors that falls between February/March is also known as “Phagu” in Nepal. This day is observed to rejoice the extermination of female demon Holika who together with her King brother conspired to kill his son Pralhad, an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. This day, playful people especially the young ones wander through the streets in groups on foot or vehicles with various colors smeared all over them and the people in houses make merry throwing colors and water balloons at each other and also to these people on the streets.

Ghode Jatra (Festival of Horses): This festival takes place between March/April and a grand horse parade takes place at Tundikhel. Although this festival does not have much of religious aspects, a large number of people, even from outside Kathmandu flock around Kathmandu to witness the horse race and other exciting sports activities performed by the Army in the presence of the King and the Royal family.

Buddha Jayanti: Buddha’s birth anniversary is celebrated every year during May in Nepal. On this day people swarm in Swayambhunath and Boudhanath to pay homage to Lord Buddha and also visit Buddha’s birth place in Lumbini and chant prayers and burn butter lamps. Lord Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha Gautam but he abandoned his luxurious life when he realized the misery of mankind and went in search of enlightenment.

Gai Jatra (Cow Festival): This festival of cow is celebrated every year in August/September. This is one of the most popular festivals in Nepal as it is full of humor, satire, comedy, mockery and shades of sadness too at the same time. And on this day satires and jokes on anybody is legal. As per the tradition, the family who has lost a relative during the past one year must take part in a procession by sending young boys in cow like attire and walk through the streets of Kathmandu lead by a cow. Cow is regarded as a Goddess and it is also the national animal of Nepal. This festival also purges many who have lost their loved ones as they get to console themselves as to they are not the only ones who have been bereaved and it also teaches to accept death as a part of life.

Krishna Janmastami: The birth anniversary of Lord Sri Krishna, believed to be the 8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu falls sometime in August/September. All the devotees assemble in Krishna Mandir, the ancient Krishna Temple in Patan Durbar Square and other temples with the idol of Sri Krishna and offer prayers, flowers, food, sweets and chant hymns too.

Teej: This is a Hindu married woman’s day for her man. This festival is celebrated in August/September. Women clad in beautiful red saris with shining potes (glass beads), singing and dancing is the sight almost everywhere in Nepal during the festival of Teej. On this day women observe a fast and pray Lord Shiva for the long, healthy and prosperous life of their husbands and their families. The unmarried women also observe this festival with unabated zeal with the hope that they will get to marry good husbands. From early dawn, women queue up in the multiple lines in Pashupatinath to offer their prayers to Lord Shiva.

Indra Jatra: This festival named after Lord Indra- the God of Rain and also the King of Heaven is celebrated by both the Buddhists and Hindus in Nepal in August/September. This festival lasts for eight days with singing, mask dancing and rejoicing. The chariot of Kumari – the Living Goddess is taken through the main streets of Kathmandu with much fanfare. On the first day, the King of Nepal also pays homage to Goddess Kumari. The crowd of excited people from performers to spectators engulfs the streets of Kathmandu during this festival. People get to enjoy various classical dances like elephant dance, lakhe – a very popular dance of a man with a mask.

Tihar: This festival of lights that falls between October/November is the second biggest festival after Dashain. This festival lasts for five days and people worship Laxmi – the Goddess of Wealth. All the houses are cleaned and decorated with the belief that Goddess Laxmi will enter the house that is the cleanest and people lit candles, oil lamps and other lights and the whole place looks illuminating. During the five days, crows, dogs and cows are worshipped and honored with vermilion, garland and delicious food for what they have done in the lives of humans. Crows are regarded as the messenger that brought news even during the times when there were no postmen and no postal services. Dogs are the most obedient animals and they guard our house as true guardians. Cow is also a symbol of wealth in Hinduism and she is also the national animal of Nepal. During Tihar, the Newari community in Nepal also observes Mha puja – a ritual of worshipping one’s own body and life. On this very day, the Newari New Year which is also known as Nepal Sambat begins. The festival ends with Bhai Tika – brothers’ day when his sisters worship him for his long and healthy life to safeguard the lives of his sisters. This is also a gambling time in Nepal as gambling is not illegal during this festival. 

Dashain Festivals in Nepal

During the month of Kartik (late September and early October), the Nepalese people indulge in the biggest festival of the year, Dashain. Dashain is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese of all caste and creed throughout the country. The fifteen days of celebration occurs during the bright lunar fortnight ending on the day of the full moon. Thorough out the kingdom of Nepal the goddess Durga in all her manifestations are worshiped with innumerable pujas, abundant offerings and thousands of animal sacrifices for the ritual holy bathing, thus drenching the goddess for days in blood.

Dashain commemorates a great victory of the gods over the wicked demons. One of the victory stories told is the Ramayan, where the lord Ram after a big struggle slaughtered Ravana, the fiendish king of demons. It is said that lord Ram was successful in the battle only when goddess Durga was evoked. The main celebration glorifies the triumph of good over evil and is symbolized by goddess Durga slaying the terrible demon Mahisasur, who terrorised the earth in the guise of a brutal water buffalo. The first nine days signify the nine days of ferrous battle between goddess Durga and the demon Mahisasur. The tenth day is the day when Mahisasur was slain and the last five days symbolise the celebration of the victory with the blessing of the goddess. Dashain is celebrated with great rejoice, and goddess Durga is worshiped throughout the kingdom as the divine mother goddess.

In preparation for Dashain every home is cleansed and beautifully decorated, painted as an invitation to the mother goddess, so that she may visit and bless the house with good fortune. During this time the reunion of distant and nearby relatives occur in every household. The market is filled with shoppers seeking new clothing, gifts, luxuries and enormous supplies of temple offering for the gods, as well as foodstuffs for the family feasting. Thousands of sheep, goats, ducks, chicken and water buffalo are prepared for the great slaughter. All types of organisations are closed for ten to fifteen days. Labourers are almost impossible to find; from the poor to the rich, all enjoy the festive mood. Anywhere you go the aroma of 'Vijaya Dashami' is found.

The first nine days of Dashain are called Nawa Ratri when tantric rites are conducted. In Nepal the life force is embodied in the divine energy and power of the female, depicted as goddess Durga in her many forms. All goddess who emanated from goddess Durga are known as devis, each with different aspects and powers. In most mother goddess temples the deity is represented simply as a sacred Kalash, carved water jug or multiple handed goddess holding murderous weapons. During these nine days people pay their homage to the goddess. If she is properly worshiped and pleased good fortunes are on the way and if angered through neglect then misfortunes are around the corner. Mother goddess is the source of life and everything.

The first day of Dashain is called Ghatasthapana, which literally means pot establishing. On this day the kalash, (holy water vessel) symbolising goddess Durga often with her image embossed on the side is placed in the prayer room. The kalash is filled with holy water and covered with cowdung on to which seeds are sown. A small rectangular sand block is made and the kalash is put in the centre. The surrounding bed of sand is also seeded with grains. The ghatasthapana ritual is performed at a certain auspicious moment determined by the astrologers. At that particular moment the priest intones a welcome, requesting goddess Durga to bless the vessel with her presence.

The room where the kalash is established is called 'Dashain Ghar'. Generally women are not allowed to enter the room where Dashain puja is being carried out. A priest or a household man worships the kalash everyday once in the morning and then in the evening. The kalash and the sand are sprinkled with holy water everyday and it is shielded from direct sunlight. By the tenth day, the seed will have grown to five or six inches long yellow grass. The sacred yellow grass is called 'Jamara'. It is bestowed by the elders atop the heads of those younger to them during the last five days when tika is put on. The jamara is taken as a token of Goddess Durga as well as the elders blessing.

As days passes by regular rituals are observed till the seventh day. The seventh day is called 'Fulpati'.

In fulpati, the royal kalash filled with holy water, banana stalks, jamara and sugar cane tied with red cloth is carried by Brahmans on a decorated palanquin under a gold tipped and embroidered umbrella. The government officials also join the fulpati parade. With this the Dashain feasting starts.

The eighth day is called the Maha Asthami: The fervour of worship and sacrifice to Durga and Kali increases. On this day many orthodox Hindus will be fasting. Sacrifices are held in almost every house through out the day. The night of the eighth day is called 'Kal Ratri', the dark night. Hundreds of goats, sheep and buffaloes are sacrificed at the mother goddess temples. The sacrifice continues till dawn. While the puja is being carried out great feasts are held in the homes of common people where large amount of meat are consumed.

The ninth day is called Nawami: Temples of mother goddess are filled with people from dawn till dusk. Animals mostly black buffaloes are slaughtered to honour Durga the goddess of victory and might and to seek her blessing. Military bands play war tunes, guns boom and officers with beautifully decorated medals in full uniform stand there. When the function ends the courtyard is filled ankle deep with blood. On this very day the god Vishwa Karma, the God of creativity is also worshiped. All factories, vehicles, any machinery instruments and anything from which we make a living are worshiped. We also give sacrifices to all moving machinery like cars, aeroplanes, trucks etc. to get the blessing from goddess Durga for protection for vehicles and their occupants against accidents during the year. The entire day is colorful.

The tenth day is the Dashami: On this day we take tika and jamara from our elders and receive their blessing. We visit our elders in their home and get tika from them while our younger ones come to our home to receive blessing from us. The importance of Dasain also lies in the fact that on this day family members from far off and distant relatives come for a visit as well as to receive tika from the head of the family. This function continues for four days. After four days of rushing around and meeting your relatives Dashain ends on the full moon day, the fifteenth day. In the last day people stay at home and rest. The full moon day is also called 'Kojagrata' meaning 'who is awake'. The Hindu goddess of wealth Laxmi is worshipped. On this day the goddess Laxmi is given an invitation to visit each and everyone.

After Dashain everyone settles back to normal. After receiving the blessing of goddess Durga, people are ready to work and acquire virtue, power and wealth. Dashain thus is not only the longest festival but also the most anticipated one among all the festivals of Nepal.

Article by Ramesh Raj Majhi

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the U.S. commitment to the democratic future of Iraq remains strong despite the withdrawal of American troops by the end of the year.

"Even as our troops come home, the United States' commitment to Iraq's future as a secure, stable, democratic nation remains as strong as ever," she said at a news conference in the Tajik capital. "This will end the war and it will open a new chapter in our relationship," Clinton said Saturday.

President Barack Obama says the death of Libya's Muammar Qaddafi and ending the U.S. war in Iraq are powerful reminders of America's renewed leadership in the world
.

At the same time, Obama said Saturday that the U.S. now must tackle its "greatest challenge as a nation" -- rebuilding a weak economy and creating jobs -- with the "same urgency and unity that our troops brought to their fight."

Obama informed the nation on Friday that the long and costly war in Iraq will be over by the end of the year and that some 40,000 U.S. servicemen and women still there "will definitely be home for the holidays."

A day earlier, he hailed the killing of Libya's longtime leader as a "momentous day" in the history of a country that Gadhafi had ruled for decades through tyranny.

 Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address that these foreign policy successes were part of a larger story.

"This week, we had two powerful reminders of how we've renewed American leadership in the world," Obama said. "After a decade of war, we're turning the page and moving forward, with strength and confidence."

He said withdrawing troops from Iraq has allowed the U.S. to focus on Afghanistan and score major victories against Al-Qaeda, including the killing in May of terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden. Troops also have been coming home from Afghanistan.

Obama said ending both wars will allow the U.S. to focus on rebuilding a weak economy so it can start creating enough jobs to reduce high levels of unemployment. That could possibly aid his re-election bid, which is being jeopardized by the tough financial circumstances.

"Over the past decade, we spent a trillion dollars on war, borrowed heavily from overseas and invested too little in the greatest source of our national strength -- our own people," the president said. "Now, the nation we need to build is our own."

The announcement of the troop withdrawal came after the president completed a secure video conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. 

The discussion apparently finalized negotiations that have dragged on for months over what, if any, military presence the U.S. would maintain in Iraq beyond a Dec. 31 withdrawal deadline set in 2008. The president said the two are now in "full agreement" over how to move forward, and that no U.S. troops will remain. 

"As promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year," Obama said. "After nearly nine years, America's war in Iraq will be over." 

Though the president cast the announcement as making good on his promise to wind down the conflict, the plan was far from a sure thing. 

Officials had been discussing with Iraqi leaders the possibility of several thousand U.S. troops staying beyond 2011 to train Iraqi security forces. However, Iraqi leaders had refused to give U.S. troops immunity from prosecution, something that was seen as a deal-breaker. 

Talks with the Maliki government did not begin in earnest until August of this year. The White House had authorized the ambassador there to negotiate the possibility of up to 5,000 trainers remaining -- though Gen. Lloyd Austin, the commanding general, had requested upwards of 15,000. 

Over the summer, Pentagon officials expressed public frustration with the stalling being done by Maliki -- it later became increasingly clear that all U.S. troops would have to leave.

Capitol Hill sources indicated Friday that, while the troops will come home, the standard presence of Marines will be kept to guard the U.S. Embassy there. 

Democratic leaders in Washington commended Obama Friday for the announcement. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi called it a "promise kept."

But some Republicans have expressed concern that the U.S. runs a risk in pulling all troops out. 

"I respectfully disagree with President Obama. I feel all we have worked for, fought for, and sacrificed for is very much in jeopardy by today's announcement. I hope I am wrong and the president is right, but I fear this decision has set in motion events that will come back to haunt our country," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said in a statement. 

More than 4,400 American military members have been killed since the U.S. invaded Iraq in March 2003. 

There are still 40,000-45,000 U.S. troops in the country, but Obama said they would all be shipping home soon. He said the next challenge will be to ensure those troops can find work in America upon returning home. 

Fox News' 

Man killed in shark attack at Rottnest Island

SHARK ATTACK: A Google map of Rottnest Island. A man has been killed by a shark at Little Armstrong Bay. Picture: Google

AN AMERICAN man was killed in a shark attack while diving off Rottnest Island today.

The 32-year-old, believed to have been in Australia on a working holiday, was diving alone about 500m off Little Armstrong Bay on the island's north-west coast when the predator struck about 1.30pm, Perth Now reported.

Police said two people aboard a private 25ft Bertram boat made a desperate emergency call after seeing bubbles in the water, before the man's body surfaced a short time later with ``obvious traumatic fatal injuries''.

Passengers travelling back to Perth from Rottnest Island today spoke of their shock and disbelief over the latest fatal shark attack in WA waters.

Police spokesman Gerry Cassidy said witnesses on the boat told police they had seen the shark, which they described as a 3m white pointer.

It is not clear if the man had been diving from a charter vessel or part of a dive tour operating in the area when the fatal attack happened.

It comes just 12 days after respected Perth businessman Bryn Martin disappeared while swimming at Cottesloe Beach. He is presumed dead, the victim of a shark attack.

Two water police vessels and the Rottnest Island ranger rushed to the scene to assist Rottnest police today.

It is understood the man had been in Australia on a working visa and lived at North Beach.

His body was repatriated to Perth by Water Police this afternoon.

A Department of Fisheries spokesman confirmed the maneater was still in the area late yesterday afternoon.

``The shark is still said to be in the area so the water users are being advised of the attack and to keep clear of the area and essentially the local authorities and the police have been clearing people from the beaches,'' he said shortly after the attack.

``We are going to assess the situation with police to see what further action is required.''

A Perth Diving Academy spokesman confirmed the dive company had a boat near the area today, but said it was unlikely that the shark's victim had been diving with a charter group because Little Armstrong Bay was not favoured by professional divers.

While most ferry passengers returning to Perth were unaware the incident had taken place when their ferries docked this afternoon, many said they could not believe another person had been attacked.

Some had been at the island enjoying the unusually balmy weather, while others were there to watch the preparations for the annual Rottnest Island Marathon being held tomorrow.

``There were very grey waters over there. No one was swimming but there was a lot of people running on island preparing for tomorrow's marathon,'' said The Sunday Times deputy editor Bill

Rule, who was at Rottnest today when the attack occurred.

The death is the fourth fatal shark attack in WA in the past 14 months.

Mr Martin is presumed dead after he was last seen 350m off of Cottesloe on October 10. His bathers, with bite marks consistent to a shark, were found by police divers on the seabed.

A memorial service for Mr Martin will be held tomorrow at North Cottesloe Surf Lifesaving Club at 1.30pm.

Last month, bodyboarder Kyle Burden, 21, was killed by a 4.5m shark near Bunker Bay at Dunsborough.

In August last year, surfer Nicholas Edwards, 31, died after being attacked at a popular surf break near Gracetown.

Police will interview witnesses about the circumstances surrounding the Rottnest death and will prepare a report for State Coroner Alastair Hope.

Meanwhile, aerial summer shark patrols, which usually start in October across metropolitan beaches, have been delayed this year as Surf Life Saving WA awaits delivery of their new $2 million helicopter.

The patrols, to start in November, will cover weekends and public holidays and run seven days a week during school holidays.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/shark-attack-in-rotto/story-e6frfkxi-1226173917497#ixzz1bVZXqSow

Hindu Temples In Nepal

A Hindu temple (Sanskrit:mandira), is a house of worship for followers of Hinduism. They are usually specifically reserved for religious and spiritual activities.

A Hindu temple can be a separate structure or a part of a building. A feature of most temples is the presence of murtis of the Hindu deity to whom the temple is dedicated. They are usually dedicated to one primary deity, called the presiding deity, and other subordinate deities associated with the main deity. However, some temples are dedicated to several deities, and some have symbols instead of a murti.

indu temples are not just worshiping places. They are denoting the cultural, art (including music, dance drama), Martial art, depiction of history. It also for meditation, center for passing knowledge from generation to generation. Some places it is used as storage center of food grains (Bhandar) for the entire village or town. In some places it is used as a fort of the kingdom.

Pictures of Hindu Temples 

Hindu temples are known by different names in different parts of the world, depending upon the language. The word mandir or mandira is used in many languages, including Hindi, and is derived from a Sanskrit word, mandira, for 'house' (of God by implication). Temples are known as kO-yil - கோயில் (and occasionally, especially in modern formal speech, aalayam - ஆலயம்) in Tamil. The etymology is from kO - கோ, or lord, and il - இல் - home (note that besides meaning God's home, this term could also mean a King's home, since the term kO - கோ is used interchangeably for royalty and divinity). Temples are known as Devasthana or Gudiin Kannada, as Gudi, Devalayam or Kovela in Telugu and Mondir in Bengali, asKshetram or Ambalam in Malayalam.

Nepal has numerous temples on different districts. Kathmandu District itself is well known as the city of temples which has attracted not only for the Hindu people but also others who have interest on others’ religion. Pictures of Hindu Temples Following is the lists of temples of Nepal district basis.

Helambu trek:

Helambu trek: 9/11 days.

Helambu trek in the Langtang range which borders to Tibet is short, easy and one of the beautiful trekking places in Nepal. Still Helambu area and its trek can offer any trekkers and traveler an old traditional Sherpa /Tibetan culture which has not been disturbed by modernity being other side ofKatmandu valley. The landscape, its Panoramic view, the view of great Himalayan scenery which borders to Tibet and the traditional old monasteries could enchant any traveler in this particular area. The attraction of the Helambu trek is always appreciated by single trekkers to organized group trekkers.

An outline itinerary:

ay 01, Arrival to airport, transfer to hotel. Our representative will pick you up from the airport and transfer to hotel.Depending upon your arrival briefing about the tour plan.

Day02, Sightseeing in Kathmandu.We visit the best of Kathmandu, including Pasupatinath,centre for the Hindu holiest site , Baudhanath,the Tibetan Buddhisst pilgrimage centre and Soyambhunath temple (monkey temple).

Day03.Drive to Sundarijal trek to Chisapani. (2300m.)

Day04.Trek to Kutumsang (2448m.)

Day05 Trek to Thadepati (3690m.)

Day06 Trek to Melamchigaun (2640m.)

Day07. Trek to Tarkeghyang (2743m.)

Day08. Trek to Kakani (2625m.)

Day09. Trek to Melamchipul, drive to Katmandu.

Day10. Tour in Katmandu.

Today we go to visit Bhaktapur and Patan, an ancient kingdom in the valley.Hotel

Day11.Departure

Time permitting you may take your time for final shopping.Depaneding on your flight, we will proceed to the airport at least before three hours.

Customized itinerary will be prepared upon our clients request and need.

Festival tour & Trek

Festival Tour & Trek in Nepal.

Festivals in Nepal are manifestation of cultural and traditional sensibility of any particular society. Festival in Nepal means not only appeasing of gods and goddess, performance of rites and rituals but also way of warding off evil, pastoral and agricultural prosperity.Longevity, happiness of family and good health of human being. Festival in Nepal also mean of strengthening familial and social ties by way of gathering.

Nepal is known for diversity in unity and unity in diversity. Because of religious, cultural and socio diversity, ethnic variation and geographical condition, festivals and rituals are also observed differently all along the country from each to another group..

Festival in Nepal takes place not only in the city, but on the hills, mountains. We will design an itinerary focusing on the festivals and place from one week, less than a week, more than a week or only few days depending where and what type of festival our visitors will be observing.

Below we give few ideas to start with festival tours and trek in Nepal. Please! Because our festivals are set up on our local calendar that is difficult to mention the fix date of any festivals. But once the yearly local calendar are published we will try to update them.

These are few possibilities of attending on mentioned festivals below:

-Could be overnight camping or Guest house stay in and around Kathmandu Valley;

-Short treks around the hill and around.

-Cultural walks to various religious and historic areas including Cities, Hills and Mountains;

-We will be attending festival with a local communities.

-There will be even a chance visiting local’s and private house during festivals;

Here is short list of our festivals in Nepal.

-Basanta Panchami, Saraswoti Pooja, (celebration fo the deities of knowledge and learning). Between11/15 February. place to observe Kathmandu and other part of Nepal.

Description:

Basanta Panchami or Shree Panchami Honors the deities of Knowledge and learning. Hindus honor the goddess Saraswoti and Buddhist the God Manjushree.Basanta Panchami also announces the beginning of Spring. The day also considered one of the auspicious in the a year to get married. People especially Children visit Saraswoti temples.Traditionally,children are given their first alphabet lesson this day.

- Lhosar,(the new year for Tibetans and Sherpa. between 9/11 February.

Sherpa's and Tibetans welcome their New Year with feasts ,family and dancing. Families put on their finest clothes and jewellery and exchange gifts. Buddhist monks offer prayers for good health and prosperity and perform dances at the monasteries. Colorful prayer flags decorate streets and rooftops. Crowds of celebrants at Buddha Nath and Soyambhu Nath are to be observed in Kathmandu.

Place to Observe:

Boudha Nath,Soyanbhunath in Kathmandu and also Northern Himalayan region of Nepal..

-Maha Siva Ratri (Siva's birth day), between 5/8 May, most of the Siva's temple, interestingly Pasupatinath temple Kathmandu.

The Birth day of Lord Shiva (one of the Hindu God) is celebrated by Hindu Pilgrims, devotees form India and Terai and other parts of country. Shiva's sacred day begins at midnight. Those Hindus pay homage to the sacred Lingam inside the Pasupati Nath temple and then bathe or at least splash a little in the river Bangmati near by the Pasupati Nath temple. The Royal family and his entourage used to pay homage to the LordShiva in the evening but now a days since Nepal is practicing Republic, the President (the head of state) has relocated the place of the King.

Hundred of Sadhus (holy men) reside in attendance camps in the courtyards of the temple situated at the opposite bank, where non-Hindus are also free to wander. Some interesting Yogic demonstrations are also witnessed here.Even the night gets chilly in the evening Several fires are placed till midnight.

Place to observe:

Pasupati Nath Temple Kathmandu,Datttatreya temple in Bhaktapur and other Shiva's temple in the Country.

-Fagu Poornima, (the festival of colors and water balls).between 23/27 March, place to observe, most of the cities in Nepal.

Holi celebrates the death of the demoness Holika. This wicked woman, who was supposed to be invulnerable to fire, tried to many times to kill her nephew , a passionate devotee of Lord Vishnu. In the end she put the boy on her lap and set fire beneath them thinking he would be burned up and she would escape. But instead the boy remained unharmed and Holika, to her surprise immolated herself. The rites of this festival celebrated her end.

Holi begins the first day with the raising of the Pole about afternoon in front of of Kumari house in Basantapur.Holi festival is know as "playing color"Young and an old ,especially the children throw water balls and color powder at each other and please themselves.In the Terai (Southern Nepal) celebrate next day from the Kathmandu valley people celebrate it.

Place to observe:

All over Nepal.

-Nepali New year Mid April:

Baisakh 1st or April 14 (not always according our local Calendar) Nepalese Year,Bikram Sambat is the new Year's Day for Nepalese people.Nepalese people celebrate it as a national festival.

-Bisket Jatra, Mid April Place to observe, Thimi Bhaktapur.

The old kingdom of ancient city of Bhaktapur and its neighboring areas replay a drama passed on over the centuries during this important festival. Images of wrathful and somewhat demonic deities are placed on tottering chariots Raths. hey are offered blood scarifies, flowers and coins. Men brimming with youthful vigor and rice beer, rag the chariots across brick-paved streets of the town, and wherever these Raths stop, amps are lit and devotees overflow into the surrounding alleys. Other gods and goddesses, too are placed on palanquins and carried around so that they may see the sights. There is tongue-bring ceremony at Bode Village, Thimi in which there is a belief that the dedicated will be reserve a place in heaven.

-Chaite Dashain:

Hindus celebrate Dasain twice a year in Nepal. Caite Dasain is one of these. The most public of the ceremonies are the ritual animal sacrifices performed by the army in the courtyard of the police station at Hanuman Dhoka. This commence form 8.00am. and is performed before the banners and insignia of various military units. Goats and buffaloes are the victims, beheaded by a single stroke of the sword. In previous years anyone in the audience could volunteer to dispatch one of the animals, but this custom has lapsed. Western visitors are allowed to view from a balcony overlooking the courtyard, with a splendid view of all the gore. The rites last about two hours and are conclude after the military commander smears each of the banners with the sacrificial blood.

-Ram Nawami:

Hindus worship God Ram as a victorious person .In memory of the victory day, all Hindu worship Ram at various temples, especially in Ram Janaki Temple in Janakpur. Sacrificing of roosters, goats buffaloes at temples are main activities on this day.

Place to observe

Ram Janaki Temple in Jnakpur and other Ram Temples in Nepal.

-Mother's day, 7//10 May,Nepal.

Mother's Day symbolizes love, affection for living mother and memory for dead mother. It is also the day of "Looking at Mother's Face". For the living, it is a reminder to pray for their souls. In this day, a special Mela (Getharing) is organized at Mata Trtha in Kathmandu. There are two pools at Mata Tirtha, the lower one is bigger and used for bathing. The smaller, upper one is called the pond for "Looking at Mother's Face" it is believed or was believed. One could see the face of one's mother in the pool' reflection..

Place to observe

Specially at Mata Tirtha,Kathmandu.

-Buddha Jayanti ( birth day of Lord Buddha),21/24 May onwards.

Buddha Jayanti is the special occasion for both Hindus and Buddhists. They celebrate this day as the day of the Siddhartha Gautama's (Buddha's) birth, enlightenment and death. His birthplace –Lumbini Grove-is in the Terai region of Nepal. Buddhists of all persuasions throughout the valley, as well as pilgrims form abroad, honor the the Buddha on this day. Most particularly at the two great Stupas at Boudhanath and Soyambunath and the largely Buddhist city of Patan. Activity at the main Buddhist Stupas and shrines begins at dawn. Soyambunath and Boudhanath are the busiest sites for the day of Buddha Jayanti.

Place to observe:

Lumbini,Boudhanath and Soyambhunath.

-Teechi Festival, A journey to Mustang 29-31 May 2011.

The Teechi (Locally pronounced TEEJI) festival is an annual event indigenous to Lo-Manthang (Upper Mustang).The name is an abbreviation of the word "Tempa Chirim" which roughly translated as "Prayer for World Peace".Thii festival commemorates the victory of Lord Buddha's incarnation "Dorjee Sonnu" over a demon called Man Tam Ru a vicious creature feeding on human being and causing storms and droughts. The Teeji festival usually takes place during the last week of May and lasts for 3 days. Dances performed by the monks of Lo Manthang's "Choedhe" Monastery during the celebration display

a)The harassment of Ma Tam Ru Ta(in a dance called "Tsa Chham" on the first day)

b)The birth of Dorjee Sonnu as the demon's son(on the second day called "Nga Chham")

c)The attempt to return the demon to lord Buddha's realm (on the final day).

The Teeji festival dances are all organized by the Choedhe Monastery, which is that of the Sakya sect of Lo Manthang. The Monastery abbot is Khemp Tasi Tenzing Rimpoche. Altogether about 75 Monks from Lo Manthang, Nhenyul and Chhosyer live in the Monastery.

Place to Observe:

Mustang, Lo Manthang.

-Saga Dawa festival (May/June),A journey to Kailash,Mansarovar Lake.

Saga Dawa is an important religious festival celebrated at Tarboche in Tibet on the 15^th day of the 4^th Tibetan month. This auspicious day coincides with Three important events of Buddha's life such as his Birth, Nirvana(enlightenment) and Mahaparinirvana (the great departure).Since the Saga Dawa festival inTibet falls on the holiest month of Tibetan calendar,it is believed that good performance prayer are multiplied by thousand fold during this event.

On this day people will gather with the hundreds of Tibetan pilgrims from the far reach of Tibet, all having endured the long journey to Kailash by over-loaded truck, some by yak caravan, and the extremely devout by full-body prostrations.

Tarboche is marked by a tall flagpole adorned with thousands of fluttering, multi-colored prayer flags and khata. The sacred prayer-pole will be ritually raised as it is every year, and the direction the pole tilts will foretell the future of Tibet for the coming year. It is a very significant ceremony, and monks, lamas and Rimpoches will supervise over the rituals. During the festival, there is plenty of shopping as a good Tibetan never misses an opportunity to make a sale, and products from all over Tibet are mostly available. And after the ceremony, devout Tibetans will gather for a piece of wooden prayer-pole, a 'sacred relic'.

-Red Machhendranath Jatra, June, place to ovserve Patan.

-Trek to GosainKunda Lake, or DudhKunda in Khumbu area during Janai Purnima festival in between 19/21st August;

-Trek to Kaling Chowk to observe Tamang shamans practice their ancient craft at Sindhupalchwok.

-Krishna Asthami (birth of Lord Krishna,between 23/27 August, Patan.

-Teej (especially for Women)between 3/9 September, all around Nepal, especially Kathmandu

-Indra Jatra, September between 15/21. Kathmandu Durbar square.

-Dashain for Hindu Oct. 4 to 14 and Tihar 1 to 5th November.

-Mani Rimdu, November, Tengboche Monastery, Khumbu Everest area.

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