Festivals of Nepal Essay, Popular

Festivals of Nepal Essay

We have many cultures and religions. So, Nepal is rich in cultural diversity. People live in the Himalayas, mountains, and Tarai regions from east to west. They celebrate many festivals.

Dashain is known as the most important festival among the Hindu people. During this festival, they worship Durga and take Tika as a holy prasad.

Like-wise, Tihar is the second-greatest festival. We worship Laxmi and exchange tika between brothers and sisters. So, is also known as Bhai taka.

In the Tarai, the women celebrate Sama chakhewa as a symbol of relationship between brothers and sisters, also known as chhath, Holi, or Fagu purnima. Teej is an important festival among Hindu women. They worshipped the god Shiva for their husbands’ long lives. Jitiya is celebrated in the Tharu community. It is like Teej.

In western Nepal, the Gauru festival is celebrated. They worship Shiva. They also perform the dueda dance. In the Eastern Hills, chandi naach is popular. They mainly worship their ancestors during the festival. The Gurung, Taming, and Sherpa people celebrate Losar as the new year of their societies.

In the Muslim community, Eid and Ramadan are the most popular festivals. like-wise, the Christian people, celebrate Christmas

DASAIN

Dasain is the most important religious festival of Nepal in which Hindus celebrate the victory of the goddess Durga over evil. Things slow down as people travel back to their families and their villages to celebrate this 10-day-long festival.

Kathmandu will be more quiet than usual. There are a few rituals in the capital, but most festivities are held within family homes in the rural villages. There, it is a joyous time in which children fly kites and swing on the specially made Linge Ping.

DAYS OF DASAIN

Gatasthapana is the first day, and on this day the seeds of a special yellow long grass (jamara) are sown in a metal pot (kalash). After a special prayer, people believe Durga resides within the pot.

The 7th day is Fulpati. The jamara is ready as a gift and blessing from the goddess Durga. In Kathmandu, there is an official government ceremony in which two Brahmin priests bring the royal kalash with jamara from Gorkha to Kathmandu. The army organizes a parade at Tundikhel to receive it.

The 8th day is Maha Asthami or Kal Ratri. People believe that Durga appeared in her most fierce representation as Kali due to blood sacrifices made to her. This day, thousands of animals are sacrificed to the goddess. In Kathmandu, this happens mostly at the Bhadrakali temple at Durbar Square or the Dakshinkali temple south of the city.

On Nawami, the ninth day, Durga made her final attack on the demon Mahishasura. The state holds military ritual sacrifices in which a large number of buffaloes are sacrificed at the Hanuman Dhoka palace at Durbar Square. This day, the Taleju temple will be open to the public. It’s also a day on which people will worship tools and machinery like knives, cars, and bicycles.

On the tenth day, it is Vijaya Dashami. Durga wins her victory over evil. Today is Tika Day, a family day on which families visit each other to receive the blessings of their elder relatives. Tika is a mixture of rice, yogurt, and red powder. Older people in the family apply tika to the foreheads of their younger family members along with the holy jamara grass and some money.

TIHAR

After Dashain, Tihar is the second biggest festival in Nepal. It is a very colorful time to be in Kathmandu. The festival of lights is similar to Diwali in India, but Nepal has its own traditions and rituals.

In Nepal, the festival lasts five days, and people worship a number of animals. First of all, the crows on day 1 (kaag tihar), then the dogs on day 2 (kukur tihar), cows on day 3 (gai tihar), and the ox (ma tihar) on the fourth day. On their respective days, people offer the animals sweets, tikas, and flower garlands.

The third day is also Laxmi Puja. People clean their homes and decorate them with lights and flowers. You can also see beautiful flower mandalas before the entrance of homes to welcome in goddess Laxmi. In the evening, people pray to Laxmi for wealth and fortune. Children will then move from home to home singing Bhailo and Deusi songs

The fifth day is Bhai Tika. This last day of Tihar is one of the most important. Sisters will visit their brothers to give tika and pray for the long life of her brother. It’s a special tiki with seven colors. They also give flower garlands and sweets to their brothers.