Picture Credit: Wonders of Nepal Sithi Nakha is celebrated by the Newa community on the sixth day of the waxing moon of Jestha (May/June) in the Bikram Sambat calendar. In Sanskrit, the word ‘Sithi’ originates from the words ‘Shashthi’, which means sixth, and ‘Nakha’, which means festival. “Dugu Puja” is also performed on the day […]
Panchadan is Buddhist festival which is observed by Buddhists especially Bajrayana Buddhist in which Buddhist antiques are displaced and gigantic effigies of Dipankar are parade around the town. The main highlight of the festival is the giving away of five elements (wheat grains, rice grains, salt, money and fruit), as per one’s will and capacity, […]
The festival of Krishna Janmashtami takes place on August 30 this year. Lord Krishna’s life is re-enacted as a dance-drama, prayers are offered, late night vigils are kept, and fasting is observed. In addition to the Jhulanotsav and Ghatas rituals, there are some other rituals associated with the celebration. Among the most celebrated Hindu festivals […]
Dance, song, mirth, and laughter are all part of Gai Jatra. In the Kathmandu Valley, cow festivals are celebrated to commemorate loved ones who have passed away. People are mostly children who the deceased’s relatives send to the festival as a remembrance of their departed relatives. Parades in the streets are made up of people […]
Kwati or sprout lentils are eaten at family get-togethers and during Janai Purnima, which is celebrated throughout the country. Hindu men renew their Janai on this day, and people flock to Shiva temples across the country. The Shaman culture celebrates this day every year. Every year on this day, Shamans from all over Nepal gather […]
Rituals associated with Nag Panchami During this day, Nag Devta is also offered milk-based foods. Home poojas are performed with snake idols made from clay. During the puja, they offer milk, haldi (turmeric), flowers, and kumkum. The devotees keep milk and flowers near snake burrows and holes. Nag Panchami has what meaning? Snakes are […]
The Newa community celebrates “Chatha: Chak” every year on the day of “Janla / Yanlathwa Chaturthi,” according to the lunar calendar. Since Shri Ganesh was born on that day, this day is famous as “Ganesh Chaturthi” in other cultures. The moon is said to lose its energy in frustration and he who looks at the […]
Gai Jatra, otherwise called Festival of Cows, is one of the most significant celebrations in Nepal. It frequently falls in Nepali Bhadra month (August to September in Solar Calendar) and proceeds for eight days. Gai Puja is predominantly held by the Newar people group in Kathmandu valley to celebrate the dead in the most recent […]
The Newar people group of the Kathmandu Valley celebrate ‘Gathaaamo’ chare (Gathe Mangal in Nepali), a celebration celebrated to pursue away the devil ‘Gaathaamo’ an evil in favorable circumstances, with much fanfare. The celebration of Gathemangal is commended in the memory of legendary devil Ghantakarna’s demise. This celebration that falls on the long stretch of […]
Goddess Nava Durga is the protector goddess of Bhaktapur city. Goddess Nava Durga is the nine manifestations of Goddess Durga that has high importance and significance in Bhaktapur. Goddess Nava Durga is the combined incarnation of nine supreme goddesses. Bramhayeni, Maheshwari, Kumari, Bhadrakali, Barahi, Indrayani, Maha Kali, Maha Laxmi, and Tripura Sundari are combinedly known […]