Royal Mountain Travel Magazine Royal Mountain Travel Magazine Issue 1 | Page 64

Festivals of Nepal

Nepal is a land of festivals and Kathmandu, more so. Perhaps it is only during the monsoon months that people
refrain from holding a festival since they are too busy in farming work. The rest of the year, it is said that not a
day goes by without one festival or the other. Here are some important festivals. Do keep in mind however, that
these are but a small drop in the ocean, as it were, with every locality, every village, having their own unique
festivals, which means that actually, the number of festivals here are countless.

January 15: Maghe Sankranti
Maghe Sankranti is the beginning of the
month of Magh (mid January) which marks
the end of the ill-omened month of Poush
(mid-December), during which time, all
religiousceremoniesareforbidden.Thisdayis
saidtobethemostsignificantdayfortakinga
holybathandSankhamul,onthebanksofthe
Bagmati River below Patan, is thought to be
amongstthemostsacredsitesforthispurpose.

March 19/20: Fagu Purnima/Holi
This festival is observed to celebrate the
victory over the female demon Holika
who together with her brother, the king,
conspired to kill his son Pralhad, an
ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. During
this festival, people smear and splash
colours and coloured water on each other.

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March 3: Maha Shivaratri
This festival is dedicated to Lord
ShivaandcelebratedbyHindusthe
worldover.ThefamousPasupatinath
Temple in Kathmandu is the main
venue of the festival here. A large
numberofsadhus(holymen)from
Indiacongregateatthesitemaking
for a colourful spectacle. Similar
celebrations take place all over the
country’s smaller Shiva temples.

.April 11: Chaite Dashain
Chaite Dashain epitomises the
victory of divine forces over
evil. Goddess Durga Bhawani is
worshipped on this day. A large
numberofdevoteesgotoworship
at Guheshwari, Daks [