Siti Jatra
The Siti Jatra takes place on the 21st of Jesth (early june), on the banks of the Vishnumati, between Kathmandu and Swyambhunath. The people feast and afterwards divide into two teams to contest a stone throwing competition. The match was once a serious affair and anybody who was knocked down or captured by the other party was sacrificed to the goddess Kankeshwari. In modern times, however. it is a light hearted affair, mostly among the children.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Bajra Jogini
Bajra Jogini
Bajra Jogini was originally celebrated by Buddhists but is also celebrated by Hindus on the 3rd of Baisakh (mid april). Her temple, Kharg Jogini, is found at Manichur mountain, near Sankhu. During the week long festival, a fire is burned in the vicinity of the temple near an image of a human head. An image of the goddess is placed in a khat (a wooden shrine) and carried through the town by the men.
Bajra Jogini was originally celebrated by Buddhists but is also celebrated by Hindus on the 3rd of Baisakh (mid april). Her temple, Kharg Jogini, is found at Manichur mountain, near Sankhu. During the week long festival, a fire is burned in the vicinity of the temple near an image of a human head. An image of the goddess is placed in a khat (a wooden shrine) and carried through the town by the men.
Machchhindra Jatra
Machchhindra Jatra
This historically significant festival celebrates Machchhindra, the guardian deity of Nepal. Ceremonies commences on the 1st of Baisakh, when the idol is bathed in holy water in the Bagmati. It is then taken to Patan, mounted on a large rath or car and a shrine is placed with carvings and flowers. The whole procession may take up to a week and the idol of Machchhindra is displayed in Patan for a month, before taken back to the Bagmati and placed back in its home temple in Kathmandu. The day that it is returned is referred to as Gudrijhar and the blanket of the idol is symbolically shaken to reveal its emptiness to represent contentment, despite poverty.
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| Machhindra nath lingo |
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| Machhindranath and the priest |
Teej
Teej Festival
The Tij Festival is an primarily the celebration of women in Nepal and some parts of India which takes place on the third day after the new moon of the month of Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September) A "festival of sisterhood," the Tij Festival is traditionally celebrated to ensure that one's husband lives a long and wealthy life. There is an additional festival celebrated by the women of Nepal, in conjunction with the Tij - the Rsi Pancami. The Rsi Pancami revolves around the purity of women. It is a time when women cleanse themselves of the possible "sin of touching a man during menstruation." During this festival, which occurs two days after the Tij, the women participate in ritual bathes and puja (worship). Traditionally, these two festivals were celebrated by women of the higher classes of Nepalese society, namely the Buhan and Chetri. However, as time has progressed, more women partake in these celebrations and the meaning and activities change. One of the defining characteristics of the Tij Festival is the songs the women sing. Traditionally, these songs emphasized the subservient role of women in Nepalese society in addition to reinforcing traditional Hindu ideology of gender relations. Within the past few decades, as Nepal and the surrounding area experiences rapid development and modernization, the Tij songs have become more of a critical commentary on gender relations from women's perspectives. These songs "extend the women's thoughts and experiences of hardships from a intimate conversation to a public setting." The Tij songs allow women to affect change in their respective societies by giving them a public voice.
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| Women in teej celebration |
The Tij Festival is an primarily the celebration of women in Nepal and some parts of India which takes place on the third day after the new moon of the month of Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September) A "festival of sisterhood," the Tij Festival is traditionally celebrated to ensure that one's husband lives a long and wealthy life. There is an additional festival celebrated by the women of Nepal, in conjunction with the Tij - the Rsi Pancami. The Rsi Pancami revolves around the purity of women. It is a time when women cleanse themselves of the possible "sin of touching a man during menstruation." During this festival, which occurs two days after the Tij, the women participate in ritual bathes and puja (worship). Traditionally, these two festivals were celebrated by women of the higher classes of Nepalese society, namely the Buhan and Chetri. However, as time has progressed, more women partake in these celebrations and the meaning and activities change. One of the defining characteristics of the Tij Festival is the songs the women sing. Traditionally, these songs emphasized the subservient role of women in Nepalese society in addition to reinforcing traditional Hindu ideology of gender relations. Within the past few decades, as Nepal and the surrounding area experiences rapid development and modernization, the Tij songs have become more of a critical commentary on gender relations from women's perspectives. These songs "extend the women's thoughts and experiences of hardships from a intimate conversation to a public setting." The Tij songs allow women to affect change in their respective societies by giving them a public voice.
Guru Purnima
Guru Purnima
Guru Purnima (IAST: Guru Pūrṇimā, sanskrit: गुरु पूर्णिमा) is a festival traditionally celebrated by Hindus and Buddhists.On this day, disciples offer puja (worship) or pay respect to their Guru (Spiritual Guide). It falls on the day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh (June-July) of the Shaka Samvat, Indian national calendar and Hindu calendar. Traditionally the festival is celebrated by Buddhists in the honor the lord Buddha who gave his first sermon on this day at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India. While Hindus celebrate it in the honour of the great sage Vyasa, who is seen one of the greatest gurus in ancient Hindu traditions, and a symbol of Guru-shishya parampara, the Guru disciple tradition. Vyasa was not only believed to be been born on this day, but that is not true and also started writing the Brahma Sutras on ashadha sudha padyami and ends on this day, hence their recitations as a dedication to him, are organised on this day, which is also known as Vyasa Purnima.
The festival is common to all spiritual traditions in Hinduism, where it is dedicated to the expression of gratitude towards the teacher by his/her disciple. Hindu ascetics and wandering monks (sanyasis), observe this day by offering puja to the Guru, during the Chaturmas , a four month period during the rainy season, when they choose seclusion, and halt at one selected place; some also give discourses to the local public. Students of the Indian classical music, which also follows the Guru shishya parampara, celebrate this festival, around the world.
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| Ancient guru blessing his follower |
The festival is common to all spiritual traditions in Hinduism, where it is dedicated to the expression of gratitude towards the teacher by his/her disciple. Hindu ascetics and wandering monks (sanyasis), observe this day by offering puja to the Guru, during the Chaturmas , a four month period during the rainy season, when they choose seclusion, and halt at one selected place; some also give discourses to the local public. Students of the Indian classical music, which also follows the Guru shishya parampara, celebrate this festival, around the world.
Dashain
Dasain
Dashain (दशैं) is the 15-day national festival of Nepal, and a state festival of Indian states of Sikkim and the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. It is also a national holiday in Bhutan. Now it is celebrated all around the world by the Nepalese diaspora. The festival falls around September-October, after the rice harvest. This festival is known for emphasis on family gatherings, as well as on a renewal of community ties. People will return from all parts of the world, as well as different parts of the country, to celebrate together.
The festival is a blend of Hindu Tantrik and animistic harvest festival traditions. On the first day, called Ghatasthapana, the "Dashain Ghar", or special worship room, is set up—this room is used to worship the Astha-Matrikas (the 8 tantrik goddesses) as well as the Nava Durgas (the 9 durga goddesses), to whom the festival is consecrated. Married women will say the mantras for the next fifteen days, and guard the goddesses. Barley is sowed on big earthern pots which have a coating of cow dung. These seeds will sprout in ten days. The sprouts, which symbolize a good harvest, will be decoratively placed on the heads of family members later on in the festival as a blessing.
Dashain's Tika and Jamara
The Tika (In red color) and Jamara (green color) used in Dashain.
On the seventh day, Fulpaati, the town of Gorkha sends an offering of flowers to Kathmandu. A band associated with the army also plays its music and goes through the old core of Kathmandu.
The eighth day, Asthami, is the day of animal sacrifices. Goddess temples all over the Kathmandu Valley receive sacrifices, ranging from male goats and water buffaloes to ducks and chickens. Blood, symbolic for its fertility, is offered to the goddesses. This meat is taken home and cooked as "prasad", or food blessed by divinity. This food is offered, in tiny leaf plates, to the household gods, then distributed amongst the family. Eating this food is thought to be auspicious.
Sacrifices continue on Navami, the ninth day. Families will visit various temples around the Kathmandu Valley. On the tenth day, "Dashami," a mixture of rice, yogurt and vermillion will be prepared by the women. This preparation is known as "tika". Elders put this on the forehead of younger relatives to bless them with fertility and abundance in the upcoming year. The red also symbolizes the blood that ties the family together. Elders will give "dakshina", or a small amount of money, to younger relatives at this time. The tika continues for five days, during which time people also gather to play cards around massive amounts of food and drink.
In several parts of Nepal, Dashain is the only time of the year when people receive a set of new clothing. Likewise, in poorer families, the animal sacrifice is eagerly anticipated since it might be the only animal protein the family would eat all year. This may be true in certain parts of Nepal where food is in low supply, but is less so in the cities. In general, the tradition of sacrifice is lessening with the easy availability of meat for daily consumption, and with the influences of Vaishnav Hindus (who are vegetarian).
In recent times, Dashain has become commercialized, with industries sponsoring events around the festival to sell goods.
Dashain this year starts on October 14, 2010.
Dashain (दशैं) is the 15-day national festival of Nepal, and a state festival of Indian states of Sikkim and the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. It is also a national holiday in Bhutan. Now it is celebrated all around the world by the Nepalese diaspora. The festival falls around September-October, after the rice harvest. This festival is known for emphasis on family gatherings, as well as on a renewal of community ties. People will return from all parts of the world, as well as different parts of the country, to celebrate together.
The festival is a blend of Hindu Tantrik and animistic harvest festival traditions. On the first day, called Ghatasthapana, the "Dashain Ghar", or special worship room, is set up—this room is used to worship the Astha-Matrikas (the 8 tantrik goddesses) as well as the Nava Durgas (the 9 durga goddesses), to whom the festival is consecrated. Married women will say the mantras for the next fifteen days, and guard the goddesses. Barley is sowed on big earthern pots which have a coating of cow dung. These seeds will sprout in ten days. The sprouts, which symbolize a good harvest, will be decoratively placed on the heads of family members later on in the festival as a blessing.
Dashain's Tika and Jamara
The Tika (In red color) and Jamara (green color) used in Dashain.
On the seventh day, Fulpaati, the town of Gorkha sends an offering of flowers to Kathmandu. A band associated with the army also plays its music and goes through the old core of Kathmandu.
The eighth day, Asthami, is the day of animal sacrifices. Goddess temples all over the Kathmandu Valley receive sacrifices, ranging from male goats and water buffaloes to ducks and chickens. Blood, symbolic for its fertility, is offered to the goddesses. This meat is taken home and cooked as "prasad", or food blessed by divinity. This food is offered, in tiny leaf plates, to the household gods, then distributed amongst the family. Eating this food is thought to be auspicious.
Sacrifices continue on Navami, the ninth day. Families will visit various temples around the Kathmandu Valley. On the tenth day, "Dashami," a mixture of rice, yogurt and vermillion will be prepared by the women. This preparation is known as "tika". Elders put this on the forehead of younger relatives to bless them with fertility and abundance in the upcoming year. The red also symbolizes the blood that ties the family together. Elders will give "dakshina", or a small amount of money, to younger relatives at this time. The tika continues for five days, during which time people also gather to play cards around massive amounts of food and drink.
In several parts of Nepal, Dashain is the only time of the year when people receive a set of new clothing. Likewise, in poorer families, the animal sacrifice is eagerly anticipated since it might be the only animal protein the family would eat all year. This may be true in certain parts of Nepal where food is in low supply, but is less so in the cities. In general, the tradition of sacrifice is lessening with the easy availability of meat for daily consumption, and with the influences of Vaishnav Hindus (who are vegetarian).
In recent times, Dashain has become commercialized, with industries sponsoring events around the festival to sell goods.
Dashain this year starts on October 14, 2010.
Main Festivals
Many notable festivals are celebrated in Nepal. As a predominantly Hindu and Buddhist nation, many of the festivals in Nepal are religious ones.
- Main festivals
- 1.1 The Machchhindra Jatra
- 1.2 Bajra Jagini Jatra
- 1.3 Siti Jatra
- 1.4 Gathia Mogal or Ghanta Karn
- 1.5 Banra Jatra
- 1.6 Rakhi Purnima
- 1.7 Nag Panchami
- 1.8 Janmashtami
- 1.9 Gai Jatra
- 1.10 Bagh Jatra
- 1.11 Indra Jatra
- 1.12 Dashain
- 1.13 Deepawali
- 1.13.1 Gai Puja
- 1.13.2 Bhai Tika
- 1.16 Bala Chaturdasi or Satbyu
- 1.17 Kartik Purnima
- 1.18 Ganesh Chauth
- 1.19 Maghe Sankranti
- 1.20 Basant or Sripanchami
- 1.21 Holi
- 1.22 Maghi Purnima
- 1.23 Ghoday Jatra
- 1.24 New Year
- 1.25 Bisket Jatra
2 Limbu festivals
3 Other festivals
3.1 Chhechu
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