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Cultural and Religious Festivals of Nepal

There are numerous festivals or special events being observed and celebrated on various days and weeks of the Nepali calendar and fortunate is the visitor who is here during any of them. Some of the more important festivals are:

* the two biggest festivals in Nepal are Dashain (October), celebrated to mark the triumph of good over evil, and Tihar, also known as the Festival of Lights (October-November), to seek the blessings of Laxmi, the Goddess of Prosperity, and to strengthen family bonds, especially between brothers and sisters;

* Buddha Jayanti, or anniversary (May) to mark birth of Gautama Duddha, born in Lumbini, Nepal;

* Indra Jatra (September) observed mainly by the original Newari inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley to invoke the blessings of Indra, the God of Rain. The pre-pubescent Living Goddess (or Kumari, meaning Virgin) is taken in ceremonial procession through the streets of the cities of the Valley during this festival;

* Teej (August), celebrated exclusively b women who fast and pray for the good health and prosperity of their husbands and for a happy, married life. A jubilant riot of colour, fine ornaments and dancing in which many lady tourists are spontaneously invited to join in;

* a highly important Hindu festival is observed during Maha Shivaratri (the Night of Lord Shiva) in March, when hundreds of thousands of Hindu pilgrims from the sub-continent converge on Pashupatinath Temple to pray and bathe in the sacred Bagmati River and ask Shiva for protection.

* Holi in March, the gaily-mad festival of colored water and powders and wild, wild celebration!!

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