Dashain
During the month of Kartik (late September and early October), the Nepalese people indulge in the biggest festival of the year, Dashain. This is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese of all caste and creed throughout the country.
Dashain commemorates a great victory of the gods over the wicked demons. It is said that lord Ram was successful in the battle only when goddess Durga was evoked. The main celebration glorifies the triumph of good over evil and is symbolized by goddess Durga slaying the terrible demon Mahisasur.
Tihar
Tihar also known as Deepawali is a five-day-long Hindu festival celebrated in Nepal. It is the celebration of lights and color dedicated to Goddess Laxmi, too unfolds social joy throughout the nation.
Tihar is the second biggest Nepalese festival after Dashain. It is considered to be of great importance as it shows reverence to not just the humans and the gods, but also to the animals like crows, cows, and dogs that maintain an intimate relationship with humans.
Rato Machindranath
Buṅga Dyah Jatra is a chariot procession honoring the Buddhist deity of compassion Avalokitesvar in Lalitpur. It is one of the greatest religious events in the city and the longest chariot festival celebrated in the country.
Rato Machindranath and is revered as the giver of rain. The name Rato Machhendranath means Red Machhendranath in a reference to the color of the deity’s image. Preparations for the festival begin with the construction of a 60-foot tall chariot at Pulchok at the western end of Lalitpur. When the chariot is complete, the image of Bunga Dyah from his temple is installed in it. The chariot is pulled through the streets of Lalitpur on a tour that lasts a month.
Seto Machindranath
Seto Machindranath, also known as Janabaha Dyo is a deity worshiped by both Hindus and Buddhists in Kathmandu. The temple of Seto Machindranath is believed to have been established around the 10th century.
The chariot procession festival of Seto Machindranath is celebrated during the month of Chaitra (March/April). This is three days long festival. The deity is bathed and repainted every year as a ritual that symbolizes the changes occurring throughout our lives. The ceremony is held on the 8th day of the bright fortnight of the third month in the lunar Nepal Era calendar. The main highlight of this event is that The Living Goddess, Kumari attends this ritual.
Buddha Jayanti
Buddha Jayanti is celebrated to mark the birthday of the Lord Buddha which dates back in about 543 BC. It falls on the full moon night of either May or June. Buddhist communities like to make their pilgrimage at Buddha’s birth place Lumbini of Nepal in this auspicious day.
Maha Shivaratri
Mahashivaratri is the celebration dedicated to the Lord Shiva which falls in February and March. It is the celebration of birthday of supreme god of Hindu mythological figure. Thousands and thousands of visitors make their pilgrimage visit in Kathmandu on this day.
Shiva is the third God in the Hindu triumvirate. The triumvirate consists of three gods. Brahma, responsible for creation, Vishnu, the preserver and Shiva, the destruction of the world.
The eight-day long Indra Jatra festival falls in September and is one of the most exciting and revered festivals of the Newari community of the Kathmandu Valley. It begins with the erection of a wooden pole made of pine at Basantapur Sqaure in front of the old Hanuman Dhoka Palace.
For the pole-raising ceremony, hundreds of spectators gather at the Palace Square and on the surrounding temples. The chariot of Kumari, the Living Goddess, is taken out in a procession through the main streets of Kathmandu.
