Chaitra Dashain

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Bada Dashain celebrated in honor of Goddess Durga around early October is the most important festival for Nepalis. Meanwhile, Chaitra Dashain takes place exactly six months prior to Bada Dashain. Chaitra Dashain used to be the original day of the grand Dashain festival, but because people got their stomachs upset after feasting on spicy food during this season, the grand celebration was shifted to a cooler season. But the religious fervor is still evident in the celebrations of the day.

Chaitra Dashain also marks the start of rath (chariot) festival. The chariot festival of God Seto Machhindranath, the lord of compassion begins on this day. The shrine of Seto Machhindranath is located inside the courtyard of Janabahal, at the heart of Kathmandu city. On the first day of Seto Machhindranath festival the image of the god is placed in a special chariot. Built with cane and timber the main body of the chariot is very tall. The huge wooden wheels of the chariot measure up to 6 feet in diameter. It is pulled around the main streets of proper Kathmandu for four days.

Ghode Jatra

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Ghode Jatra takes place between March/April and a grand horse parade takes place at Tundikhel. Although this festival does not have much of religious aspects, a large number of people, even from outside Kathmandu flock around Kathmandu to witness the horse race and other exciting sports activities performed by the Army. Tundikhel is at the central point of the city. This ground is reputed to have been, in the former days, the largest parade ground in Asia. It is said that in the olden days the Kings of Kathmandu used to go to worship at the Bhadrakali temple in a courtly cavalcade following the Living Goddess Kumari. This visit could have been modified into the parade of horses and finally the horse athletics and racing contest as it is today, held by the army in the presence of the King or Head of the State.

There are other stories as to how Ghode Jatra started. Legend reveals that this festival was held to celebrate the victory over a demon named Tundi who resided over the meadow, today known as Tundikhel. Tundi was a terror, so when he met with his death people rejoiced by dancing on his body with horses. So it’s believed that the clamor of horses’ hooves on Ghode Jatra at Tundikhel keeps the demon’s sprit at bay as it still threatens to ruin the city. It’s said, the faster the horses run quicker will Tundi’s spirit be dispelled. The swift running of the horses on this day is also considered to be a good omen for the Nepalese people.

Another event takes place on Ghode Jatra at Bal Kumari area in Patan where a horse is intoxicated with spirits and an equally drunk person in a traditional Newari attire rides it. People shout to frighten and enrage the animal until it runs widely with the rider clinging to it. This race is thought to have been commenced in the olden times by a certain king of Patan to give a better show in comparison to Tundikhel’s parade, as in those days no one from Patan could attain it. There was a time when the festival was considered only for the residents of Kathmandu. But today it’s popularity has attracted people from all over Nepal. The most worshiped goddess on this day in Bhadrakali also known by the Newari people as Lumarhi Devi.

The festival has two sides of its celebration. Its cultural side involves the Newars of Kathmandu who celebrate it for several days. The idols of the gods of many localities are taken in a procession in their area in portable chariots. Every household is feasting at this time. A demon called ‘Gurumumpa’ is also propitiated at this time in Tundikhel. This festival is called Pahachare. The other aspect of the festival is provided by the function organised by the Royal Nepalese Army at Tundikhel in the afternoon of the main day. Horse race and acrobatic shows are presented at this time in which His Majesty the King is present. A meeting of Lumadi, Bhadrakali, Kankeshwari and Bhairav takes place during the day time at the main celebration at Ason. The deities are brought in their portable chariots. The same festival is repeated at night in Tundikhel.

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Fagu Purnima

Fagu Purnima or Holi takes place on the last day of Falgun. In Nepal, a wooden post, known as a chir is adorned with flags and erected in front of the palace. It is burned at night, representing the burning of the body of the old year. This is a festival of water and colors. This day is observed to rejoice the extermination of female demon Holika who together with her King brother conspired to kill his son Prahlad, an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu.

Holi technically begins once the ‘chir’ is erected even though the actual day is a week later. In the Kathmandu valley and most of the other places, Fagu is celebrated on the first full moon after the ‘chir’ ceremony. In the Terai region of Nepal, Holi is celebrated the day after. This day, playful people especially the young ones wander through the streets in groups on foot or vehicles with various colors smeared all over them and the people in houses make merry throwing colors and water balloons at each other and also to these people on the streets. It’s better to hide your good clothes, for throughout the week you may be splashed with colored powder and water balloons. The last day is the wildest, youths covered with red vermilion powder roam the streets as inviting targets.

Chir, a wooden post

Shivaratri

Mahashivaratri

Shivaratri or the night of Lord Shiva that falls sometime between February/March is one of the major festivals of Nepal. Maha ShivaRatri means “the night of Shiva”. The ceremonies take place chiefly at night.
This day is dedicated to the Lord of the Lords – Lord Shiva or Mahadev who lived in Mt. Kailash in the Himalayas. Shiva was married to Parvati on this day. Lord Shiva is the most worshiped God in the Hindu religion. More than 100,000 of Hindu devotees from India and Southeast Asia throng weeks ahead of the festival and gather in and around Pashupatinath temple – one of the holiest shrines of the Hindus in Kathmandu to pay their homage to Lord Shiva on his birthday. “Pashupatinath” literally means “the Lord of animals” as Lord Shiva is considered as the guardian and protector of everything that exists in the Himalayan Kingdom.

On this holy day, worshippers take dip and bath in the holy river at early dawn and fast for the whole day
and stay around fire to keep them warm as it is still winter in Nepal. People observe a strict fast on this day. Some devotees do not even take a drop of water. They keep vigil all night. The Shiva Lingam is worshiped throughout the night by washing it every three hours with milk, curd, honey, rose water, etc., whilst the chanting of the Mantra Om Namah Shivaya continues. Offerings of bael leaves are made to the Lingam. Bael leaves are very sacred as, it is said, Lakshmi resides in them.

Hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, such as the Shiva Mahimna Stotra of Pushpadanta or Ravana’s Shiva Tandava Stotra are sung with great fervor and devotion. People repeat the Panchakshara Mantra, Om Namah Shivaya. He who utters the Names of Shiva during Shivaratri, with perfect devotion and concentration, is freed from all sins. He reaches the abode of Shiva and lives there happily. He is liberated from the wheel of births and deaths. Many pilgrims flock to the places where there are Shiva temples.

When is shivaratri observed

Skandha Puran describes about four ShivaRatris. The first one is Nitya ShivaRatri (daily ShivaRatri – every night). The second one is the Masa ShivaRatri which is observed on the Krishna Pakchhya Chaturdasi(fourteenth Monday on the moon’s diminishing phase). The third one is the Maga Prathamadi ShivaRatri which is observed for the thirteen days starting from Prathama tithi in the month Maagh (mAsi) and on the chaturdasi night the Lord is worshiped throughout the night.
The fourth one is observed on the Masi (Maagh) month Krishna Pakchhya Chaturdasi. This is the one observed in a widespread manner. It is also called Maha ShivaRatri.

Way of observing shivaratri

Getting up early in the morning one meditates on the Infinitely Auspicious, ornate with thousands of splendid garlands, who is in the form of the holy symbol of shiva (Maha Lingam). Bathing and staying clean the worship of Lord Shiva in the form of Shiva lingam is done in the four jamas of the night (four equal time intervals of the night).

Note that the linga worship is explicitly mentioned for this vratam as this is the time the God out of Its grace for the benefit of pashus appeared in a formless-form that is a symbol (lingam) from its true nature of formlessness

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra (Transliteration)

Om Tryambhakam Yajaamahe
Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam |
Urvaarukamiva Bandhanaan
Mrityor Muksheeya Ma-Amritaat ||

Learn the meaning here

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Basanta Panchami

Basanta Panchami or Saraswati Puja or Shree Panchami is a day to celebrate the birthday of Saraswati – the Goddess of Learning. This day falls between January/February. This is a day when people from school students to scholars worship their pens and books to please the Goddess and expect her favor in their studies so they become wise and knowledgeable. People also throng around the idol of Goddess Saraswati, especially in Swayambhunath and offer flowers, sweets, fruits, etc. On this day, small children are taught to read and write and people write on the stones and slabs with chalks and pencils. Devotees, students, writers, scholars, singers, weavers, craftsmen and others worship their books, pens, ink bottles, tools etc. on this sacred day as they make offerings to Goddess Saraswati with sweets, flowers and rice.

Basanta Panchami and Saraswati Puja celebrations in Nepal welcome the advent of spring, flowers, gaiety and good fortune. The people of Nepal believe that Basanta Panchami is one of the most auspicious dates for beginning a newly married life. Children in between the ages of 5 to 7 are made to utter their first alphabet on the auspicious Basant Panchami day.

Saraswati Bandana Mantra

Saraswati Vandana Mantra is an important hindu mantra that is recited for higher knowledge and wisdom.

या कुंदेंदु तुषारहार धवला, या शुभ्र वस्त्रावृता |
या वीणावर दण्डमंडितकरा, या श्वेतपद्मासना ||
या ब्रह्माच्युतशंकरप्रभ्रृतिभिर्देवै: सदा वन्दिता |
सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती नि:शेष जाड्यापहा ||

Transliteration

Yaa Kundendu tushaara haara-dhavalaa,
Yaa shubhra-vastra’avritaa
Yaa veena-vara-danda-manditakara,
Yaa shweta padma’asana
Yaa brahma’achyuta shankara prabhritibhir Devai-sadaa Vanditaa
Saa Maam Paatu Saraswati Bhagavatee Nihshesha jaadyaa-pahaa.
Shuklam Brahm Vichar Saar parma Madhyam Jagadvyapini,
Haste Sphatik Malikam Kamlam Padmasane Sanstitaam .
Vandetam Parmeshwari Bhagwati…..
Saa maam Paatu Saraswati Bhagwati Buddhi Pradam Shardam.

Translation

She, who is as fair as the Kunda flower,the moon, and a garland of Tushar flowers;
She, whose hands are adorned by the excellent veena, and whose seat is the pure white lotus;
She, who is constantly praised and glorified by Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh and other divinities;
O Mother Goddess, remove my mental inertia!

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Maaghe Sankranti

Maaghe Sankranti is a Nepalese festival observed on the first of Maagh in the Bikram Sambat Nepali calendar (about January 14) bringing an end to the ill-omened month of Poush when all religious ceremonies are forbidden. On this day, the sun is believed to leave its southernmost position and begin its northward journey. Maaghe Sankranti is similar to solstice festivals in other religious traditions. On this day pilgrims swarm in at river confluence for a holy dip in the water, despite freezing temperature. Some resort to only sprinkling water above their head because of the cold. In addition to the customary sacred plunge by the brave at heart, this year it is a solar eclipse on this day, which supports the holy practice of taking dip in the river after the eclipse. Devotees, many of them are elderly, take holy dips at the convergence points at Devghat, Baraha Kshetra, Triveni, Dolalghat, Sankhamool and other sites all across Nepal. Big religious fair are held on this day at Devghat (near Narayanghat) and Kankai (in Jhapa district) where many people gather for the spiritual feel by worshipping the shrines. Many travel around for fun from different parts of Nepal and India.

In addition to holy bathing and worship of shrines, this festival carries along with it different items to eat so that it will lead to a healthier life ahead. Specially, Ghyu (clarified butter) is used to cook many items as it is religiously accepted notion that the use of ghyu wipes all the impurity. Teel Laddus (sesame seeds ball mixed with jaggery and rounded), Ghya-Chaaku (assemblage of ghee and chaaku – a popular condiment of Newar community), Shakkharkhand (sweet potato), Tarool (Yam), Khichadi (mixture of rice and lentils with clarified butter as the thickener) are the special menu items for this day. It is a normal customary in Nepal to invite married daughters and close relatives during festivities, and Maaghe Sankranti is not an exception. Families come together and share these delights. There is yet another tradition of massaging the body with mustard oil and then basking in the sun with the idea of keeping the body warm and relaxed in this cold day.

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