POPULAR NEPALI FESTIVAL AND ITS DETAIL

LIST OF NEPALI FESTIVAL

• Dashain
• Tihar
• Teej
• Gai Jatra
• Indra Jatra
• Basant or Sripanchami
• Holi
• Ghoday Jatra

ABOUT DASHAIN;-

                                  it is also called in nepal baddadashi ,bijaya dasami.it is the 15-day-long national festival of Nepal. It is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese people throughout the globe. It is not only the longest festival of the country, but also the one which is most anticipated. The festival falls in September or October, starting from the shukla paksha (bright lunar fortnight) of the month of Ashvin and ending on purnima, the full moon. Among the 15 days for which it is celebrated, the most important days are the first, seventh, eighth, ninth and the tenth.Throughout the country Shakti is worshiped in all her manifestations. This festival is also known for its emphasis on the family gatherings, as well as on a renewal of community ties. People return from all parts of the world, as well as different parts of the country, to celebrate together.All government offices, educational institutions and other offices remain closed during the festival period.

 

Photo :- child taken tika by previous king ganendra bir bikrem shah dev 

Dashain symbolizes the victory of good over evil.

For followers of Shaktism, it represents the victory of the goddess, Shakti. In Hindu mythology, the demon Mahishasura had created terror in the devaloka (the world where gods live ) but Durga killed the demon.[4][5][6] 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 Rama over Ravana as recounted in the Ramayana.

TIHAR:-
              it is also called as Bhai Tika, Dipawali, Laxmi Puja,it is the 5-day-long national festival of Nepal.which comes soon after Dashain. It is similar to Deepawali but with a regional variation. In Nepal, all Hindu ethnic groups celebrate this festival with their own variation . Among the Newars, it is known as Swanti. 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 a sacred welcoming area for the Gods and Goddesses of Hinduism.

Celebration 
Tihar, the festival of lights, is one of the most important festivals in Nepal. It is celebrated for five days. Happenings of all these days have been given below : 

Day 1
Crows, called Kaga in Nepal, are worshipped on the first day. Delicious meal is cooked early morning in every household and each member of the family takes some food outside. The crows descend in large numbers to partake the offerings. People consider the crows to be the messenger of Yama, the Lord of Death. People worship crows to keep sadness at bay. They consider the voice of crows as symbol of sorrow.

Day 2
Second day is dedicated to worshipping of dogs. Kukur (Dogs) are decorated with flower garland around their necks. Red tika is applied on their forehead. They also get to savour delicous meals. People request the dogs to guard their homes. 

Day 3
Cows are worshipped on the third day of the Tihar. Cow is considered the mother of the universe according to Hindu traditions, and therefore a sacred animal. Tika is applied on her forehead, she is garlanded and offered nice things to eat. People place her manure in different parts of their houses. They drink a drop or two of the cow's urine, for they think that the action would purify them.

Laxmi Puja
Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth, is worshipped with great zeal and faith. Whole country is illuminated with lights. Candle lights and oil lamps are traditionally used for the purpose. The 'puja' is usually performed at dusk, preferably by female. She makes a symbolic footprint outside the home with red mud and then walks to the room where the goddess is worshipped. 

Bhailini Songs
Bhalini songs are played only on this day in the entire year. These are special songs which groups of girls sing together. They sing Bhailo door and door, and get money or homemade treats in return.

Day 4 
Men sing Deusi or Deusuray songs. They are given money or refreshments. Arrival of the new year is also celebrated in Tihar. Ritual of Govardhan puja or Goru Tihar (Oxen Worshipping) is also observed. The religious proceedings of the fourth day are also known as mahapuja.   

Day 5
Fifth day, also known as Bhai Tika, is the day of brothers and sisters. Sister applies red tika on the forehead of brother. An intriguing ritual is also followed. Sisters walk around the brothers three times dropping oil on the floor from a pitcher. Sisters pray for brothers' long life and prosperity while brothers offer gifts. Then delicious Tihar feast takes place in the households.

   TEEJ :-

Teej is a festival celebrated by Nepali women, for the long life of her husband and long and firm relationship between them until the death this life and all the lives to come. Teej is observed for marital happiness, well-being of spouse and children and purification of own body and soul. Teej is  the most famous festival among Nepali women. 
On Teej, the devotees do not eat and drink the whole day. They first offer worship to Lord Shiva and spend the rest of the day singing and dancing in the temple premises. Singing Teej songs like "Teej ko rahar aayo bari lai". Indeed, women are seen mostly in holy sites on this day. Men are not allowed to enter the most of Shiva Temples on this day. 

Outside Kathmandu valley too, women gather in public places like roads and markets and enjoy the festival by singing and dancing. 

The folk music and dances add more flavor to traditional values of Teej. It is fascinating to see women, in “Red” dancing and singing on the street, going to temple in holy and fasting mood. Teej is also called Hari Talika Teej. This festival is celebrated by Nepali Hindu women all across the world.

Teej is celebrated on 3rd day of Bhadra Sukala Paksha (according to Nepali lunar calendar). It generally falls in late August or early September

The eve (first day of Teej);- is called Dar Khane Din. On this day all the family members especially the women, both married and unmarried gather at one place, in their finest outfits of red (called Saubhagya) and start dancing and singing devotional songs mixed with Nepali folk and Dohori songs. 

This evening the grand feast takes place. The grand feast is called “Dar”. The fun often goes on till midnight, after midnight the 24-hour fasting starts.

The second day 

Second day is the main day of Teej (the fasting day). Some women take it very rigid, they even live without a piece of food and drops of water while some others take liquid and fruit. On this day, they happily dress in red, married women wear their lagan ko pote, nathhi, other jewelries and chadke tilahari ( jewelries are optional but chadke tilahari, laganko pote and natthi is said to be most important) and visit a nearby Lord Shiva’s temple singing and dancing all the way.

Most of devotees in Kathmandu go to Pashupatinath Temple. At the Shiva temple, women worship the Shiva lingam, the symbol of the lord Shiva, offering flowers, sweets and coins. The main puja (religious ceremony) takes place with offerings of flowers, fruits, etc., made to Shiva and Pārbati, pleading them to grant their blessing upon the husband and family. The most important part of the pooja is mostly done in the evening burning the oil lamp (108 sute batti in a diyo) which should be burning throughout the night. It is a tradition of giving the diyo of teej by her mother in law to the married woman.

Third day morning

Women get up early in the dawn and get cleaned and do the puja once again to the diyo and goddess Parvati. The most important part of this puja is a banana and holy basil (Tulsi patta) leaf. Only after this puja, women take solid food. This third day of Teej is Ganesh Chaturthati. Women eat Karkalo ko Tarkari with chokho (pure) food made with pure ghee.  



The fourth day of the festival 


After the completion of the previous day's pooja, women pay homage to various deities and bathe with red mud found on the roots of the sacred Datiwan bush, along with its leaves. This act of purification is the final ritual of Teej, after which women are considered forgiven from all their sins. The recent years have witnessed an adjustment in the rituals, especially regarding the strictness, but its spirit remains the same.

The actual date of inception of Teej is not known. However, it is celebrated by the women of Nepal and some part of India with lots of joy and enthusiasm. Most married women rich or poor observe this festival with fun. 

Eating delicious food, popularly called dar, on the eve of Teej, and singing and dancing on the main day are the main features of this festival. On this particular day, the streets of Kathmandu turn into a sea of red with women dressed in red Sarees and Dhoties making their way to Shiva shrines, especially to the Pashupatinath Temple. 

HOLI :


Holi in Nepal starts one week before the main day of Holi. There is a tradition of erecting a long bamboo stick (lingo) covered with pieces of different color cloths (Chir) in Bashantapur Durbar square, Kathmandu. In the eve of Holi the lingo is taken down and the Chir is burnt. The event is called Chir Haran or Holika Dahan. Holi then starts. 

Holi is celebrated with colors, water, sweets and music. People put color on each other as a token of love. People go houses of relatives and friends in group. Put colors on each other eat sweets and move whole day. People dance and play music. People in Terai celebrate Holi the next day from Kathmandu Valley and other hilly reason of Nepal.  

Actually, there was a tradition of bringing Holi from places to places, so different places could have different dates for Holi celebration in order in olden days. In some part of India, this still holds true. Now, in Nepal there are only two days celebrations.   

People used to make Pichkari (water guns) out of bamboo. And throw colored water on each other. Now-a-days balloons and plastic water guns (pichkari) are used. The balloon filled with water is called Lola in Nepali. Kids start throwing lolas on each other from week ahead of main Holi days.  

People collects wood and burn fires and play music and performs dances. Some drink bhang and go crazy and make jokes. 

The burning of the wood log in village and town avenues are very important part of Holi celebration. This event is called Holika Dahan, the end of Holika. 

Holi is official holiday in Nepal. Offices are closed on Fagun Purnima days in hilly reason to celebrate Holi and the very next day, Terai is off for the celebration

      why we celebrate holi ??

      Death of Holika

It is said Holi is the day when Holika is died. It is celebration of her death. 

Praladh was son of Hiranyakasyapu, a demon who started thinking he was only the Lord in this Universe. Praladh became devotee of Lord Vishnu, while Hiranyakashyapu wanted all to worship him only. Hiranyakashyapu wanted to convience his son with various tries, but failed. Praladh never stopped worshipping Lord Vishnu. 

Hiranyakasyapu then planned to kill his five year old son. He ordered his sister Holika to kill Praladh. Holika was blessed with a fire proof dress. She went to flame with carrying Praladh. However, due to devotion of Praladh Lord Krishna burnt Holika and safely rescued Praladh.  

Holika Dahan, means the end of Holika became Holi. People celebrated the end of Holika with colors, so the festival Holika Dahan became later Holi. 


There is tradition of making Hay Holika and burn it on the Holi.