INSIDE HIMALAYAS | NEPAL | TIBET | BHUTAN
APRIL
14
2018
APRIL
30
2018
NEPALI NEW YEAR
This is a major holiday in Nepal. A
particularly lively place to spend the
day is Bhaktapur, where the Bisket Jatra
festival takes place. A huge chariot
carrying the god Bhairab is pulled
through the streets, ending with a chariot
battle at Bhaktapur’s Khalna Tole.
BUDDHA JAYANTI (Buddha’s birthday)
Buddha’s birthday falls on the first full
day of the first month of the Hindu lunar
calendar, and is celebrated by Hindus
as well as Buddhists. It is observed
at Buddhist shrines and monasteries
throughout Nepal, but a particularly
grand ceremony is held at Buddha’s
birthplace in Lumbini, on the Terai. In
Kathmandu, the Tibetan enclave of
Boudhanath is a particularly good place
to watch the festivities.
INSIDE HIMALAYAS | NEPAL | TIBET | BHUTAN
APRIL
21
2018
MAY
JUNE
2018
MATA TIRTHA AUSHI (MOTHER’S DAY)
On this day, children (including adult
children!) offer sweets, fruits and gifts to
their mothers to show their respect and
gratitude. Those whose mothers have
passed away visit Matatirtha in the west
of Kathmandu, take holy bath and make
offerings in their mother’s memory of
their deceased mothers.
RATO MACHCHHENDRANATH
This is Nepal’s longest and largest
festival, held in Patan. A large chariot
is built on Pulchowk Road over
several weeks, and finally the god
Machchhendranath is placed inside.
Three days later, the chariot begins its
procession all throughout Patan and
wider Lalitpur, towards Bungamati.
Machchhendranath is the Newar god
of rain, and the festival ushers in the
monsoon.
The perfect place for
exciting adventures
and complete
relaxation
JULY
2018
NAAG PANCHAMI
Naag Panchami falls in the middle of the
monsoon. It is a Hindu festival that worships
the serpent god, Naag. Pictures of Naag
are posted in doorways, and milk is offered
to him. It is believed that worshipping
Naag protects against snakebites. This
festival marks respect to serpents as water
guardians, and to ensure regular rainfall in
the Kathmandu Valley.
[email protected], www.thelastresort.com.np
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