FESTIVALS-April to September | |
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The Nepalese follow their own calendar system known as the Bikram Era or Bikram Sambat. This festival celebrates the first day of the first month of the New Year and is observed as an official holiday. In Bhaktapur, fifteen kilometers from Katmandu, the new year celebrations take on added importance as the "Festival of Bisket" during a tall wooden post is erected in one of the main squares. This festival commemorates the great battle of Mahabharata, with the wooden post symbolizing victory.
After two days, images of god Bhairab and his female counterpart
Bhadra are enshrined in two large chariots and pulled through
crowds of cheering onlookers. When the chariot reaches a sloping open
square, there is a tug-of-war between the inhabitants of the upper and
lower parts of the town. Winners are considered to be blessed with good
fortune for the coming year. The festival concludes with several days
of dancing and worship. Thimi, another ancient town of the Valley, also
celebrates the New Year with special festivities. This
festival takes place in Patan. During the celebrations the towering
chariot of Lord Machchhendranath is pulled by ropes through
the narrow streets of the city followed by a large crowd of worshippers.
In front of the chariot, a small crowd of musicians and soldiers add
even more excitement to the occasion. Over a period of several weeks,
the chariot is slowly hauled to Jawalakhel where tens of thousands of
devotees burn oil lamps and keep an all-night-vigil. During this chariot
festival the "Bhoto" or sacred waistcoat, itself the subject
of many legends is displayed from the chariot as all the onlookers strain
to catch a glimpse of the lucky sight. A final ritual is then conducted
to mark Lord Machchhendranath's departure for one year. Buddha Jayanti (The Birthday of Lord Buddha) Buddha
Jayanti is a great day for the Nepalese. This day which falls on the
full moon of the month of Baisakh is celebrated to commemorate the birth,
attainment of knowledge, and the death of Lord Buddha the founder preacher
of Buddhism, more than 2500 years ago. It is a thrice-blessed day. It
is the day when he attained Nirvana (salvation). Prayers are sung and
worship is offered by the Buddhist in leading Buddhist shrines throughout
the country. At Swayambhunath temple for example, devout Buddhists gather
to chant prayers and burn butter lamps. The next morning, a small shrines
are visited and worshipped. Parading groups walk through the streets
of Katmandu and Patan while special flags fly from all Buddhist households. This
typical Sherpa festival is celebrated exclusively in the Lamaist monasteries
of the Mt. Everest region. It is held in the month of May, mostly on
full moon day at the Thame monastery in he Khumbu region, near Namche
Bazaar at an altitude of 13,123feet (4000m). A very spectacular masked
dance drama played for three full days is the main outdoor highlight
of the festival. Taking
place towards the end of the Nepalese month of Sravan, this festivals
celebrates the exorcism of a mythical demon, Ghantakarna, who,
according to legend, was greatly feared throughout the Katmandu Valley.
The festival is celebrated by acting out the legendary drama in the
streets. To begin with, children of each Katmandu Neighborhood collect
money from passersby which is then used to make an effigy of the demon
god. While this effigy remains in the center of a rough tent-like structure
erected from bamboo poles, one man impersonates Ghantakarna by
smearing himself with white paint and roaming the local area collecting
donations in a begging bowl. Surrounded by the crowds of small children,
the group then returns to the effigy and proceeds to take it to the
river for burning, thus marking the victory of the local inhabitants
over the demon god. According
to tradition dating back since time immemorial, every family who has
lost one relative during the past year must participate in a procession
through, the streets of Katmandu leading a cow. If a cow is unavailable
then a young boy dressed up as a cow is considered to be a fair substitute.
It is believed that the symbol of a cow, revered as a holy animal by
all devout Hindus, will assist the deceased relative's heavenward journey.
Later in the Afternoon, nearly everyone takes part in another age-old
tradition in which all participants dress up and wear masks; jokes,
mockery and humor of every kind become the order of the day until the
late evening. Krishnashtami
or the birthday of Lord Krishna, is celebrated in commemoration
of the hero of the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. On this day, worshippers
carry ornate and decorated idols and pictures of Lord Krishna through
the streets, often with bands of musicians following or preceding the
procession. In Patan, thousands of devout flock to Krishna temple to
worship and receive blessings. The
festival is celebrated by both the Hindus and Buddhists with great enthusiasm.
The festival continues for eight days during which time there is much
rejoicing, dancing and feasting. On the first day, along wooden pole
is erected in front of the ancient Royal Palace at Hunuman Dhoka, in
order to propitiate Indra, the god of rain. Classical dancers also assemble
at the spot wearing different kinds of masks and dancing around the
courtyard of Hanuman Dhoka to celebrate Indra's visit. On the third
day of the festival, the Living Goddess or "Kumari" is taken
out in a procession in a chariot. Three chariots of Kumari, Ganesh and
Bhairav are taken round the city for three days. The King also pays
homage to the Kumari during this time. The festival's many other interesting
dances including the Mahakali, Mahalaxmi, and Dasha Avatara
masked dances, are staged on the plinth of Narayan temple, just opposite
the Kumari temple. On the last evening of the festival, the long wooden
pole erected on the first day is lowered amid religious ceremonies and
animal sacrifices. |
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Bhairab
Devotees, Bisket Jatra
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Chariot
of Lord Machchendranath
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Stick
Dancer, Machchendranath
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Musicians,
Mani Rimdu
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Dancers,
Mani Rimdu
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Gai
Jatra
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Audience,
Indrajatra Festival
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