Tucked away in a narrow alley in culturally and architecturally rich Patan area, these 100 years old Newari sweets shop ‘Shree Ghanashyam Mithai Bhandar’ and ‘Shree Nanda Mithai Bhandar’ are largely known to locals and regulars. Owned by two brothers, it is now the fourth generation who are running these sweets shops. These places look very…
Biska Jatra is a chariot parade festival primarily celebrated in Bhaktapur to mark the coming of spring. The festival is observed for eight nights and nine days. On the first few days of Biska Jatra, the deities Bhairav and Bhadrakali are worshiped in their respective chariots amid various special tantric rituals. On the fourth day,…
Amidst a nationwide lockdown, Mahasana (bathing ceremony) Rato Machhindranth (Red Macchendranath) and Kumari Puja completed quietly in Patan. Although few people gathered there, they maintain social distancing. In a presence of few hundred devotees, who wore masks and maintained their social distancing, the festival begins reports Sulabh Shrestha in Deshsanchar. As per the ritual, priest…
Nepal Samvat’s New Year’s Day (Kartika Sukla Pratipada) coincides with a Newars family celebration, both Buddhist and Hindu, called mha puja (literally, body-worship or self-worship). While the puja is obviously influenced by the puranas and tantras, it is a distinctive Newar festival, quite distinct in shape and content from Govardhan Puja’s Hindu festival. Usually noted…
The Origins Nepal sambat was founded on October 20, 879 A.D. during th reign of Thakuri King Raghavadeva (ca. A.D. 879-942). According to a mid-fourteenth-century Sanskrit chronicle an epoch-era was dedicated to Lord Pasupati (Pasupatibhattarake samvatsara pravartkritah) during his reign. This has led some historians to surmise that “the foundation of the era was due…
Nag Panchami is the Nag-snake festival to worship. The snakes are frightening reptiles as some of them are toxic. The so-called Nag snakes are generally toxic cobra snakes. To be secure from the snakes, the festival is celebrated. Kathmandu’s individuals go to Lake Taudaha, Naagpokhari to worship the Naag. Naagdaha also regarded one of the…
Lakhey Dance is Nepali community’s famous dance. Lakhey is regarded as a legendary devil who, by chasing away other devils, kept his domain. According to the legend, Lakhey punishes him who infringes his domain. This dance is conducted every year in the month of September during the Indra Jatra festival that falls. We members exercise…
Literally Cow Festival, this is an eight-day jovial festival. Everything that creates joy and laughter is part of the highlights of the festival to dance, sing, pantomime. On the festival’s first day, individuals whose family members died in a year-round parade of a decorated cow around the town dressed as cows or hermits together with…
he festival, which starts from the south Shukla Paksha, is performed separately by Buddhist Buddhist worshipers and worships the Buddha separately. During this period, it is customary to revolve around various Buddhist monasteries, Chaityas and Chokas in Daja Baja, Neku, Mwaial and others. Particularly the atmosphere around the Swayambhu Mahayachtis plays a leading role in making music…
On the first day of Bhadra (Nepali Calendar), the Bagh Bhairab Festival is celebrated. Devotees used to round Bagh Bhairab Temple for 108 times for successful and healthy blessings on the occasion of the Bagh Bhairab festival. Pic Source: Narayan Maharjan
Gathemangal is a festival held every year in the month of June / July on Shrawan Krishna Chaturdashi. Gathemangal or Ghantakarna Chaturdasi is a term co-relatively used for worshiping and offering sacrifices to demons as a festive. In the Newar group, Gathemangal is celebrated and observed in various areas of the Kathmandu Valley. There is…
Neel Barahi’s renowned tantric temple stands on a hillock in Bode of Madhyapur Thimi in the center of a forest. The temple structure itself is very easy, but it is adorned with different sculptures and artifacts. In the medieval period, the temple was created. The temple is built in a Guhyeshwori-Dakshinkali-like style. The shrine space,…
Nepali chelsea Nazma Siebler Shrestha, who is about to achieve three centuries, has started to educate European mothers about the traditional manner in Nepal’s Newar society to massage newborn oils. Citizens say this technique began by calling his mom Haridevi Shrestha from Nepal for the usual oil massage after her first child was born in…
You may want to understand what a “Bhoto” is before we start the tale, yes. Well, that’s a jacket. “Bhoto” translates into “a jacket” in Nepali. “Jatra” refers to “festival.” And so, you’re going to read the vest festival tale. Yes, you’ve read that right, here we have a festival for a jacket, and it’s…
Kathmandu – I had a challenge to write an article on the influence, attraction and centrality of Nepal City or the capital. Considering this, some topics were opened. The first thing was romantic. Nepal Valley and Alpapuri Kanpurpuri have been known as Kathmandu after coming shortly. But I call it ‘Nepal City’ for easy. I have Nepali consciousness centered…
Indra is Rain’s Lord and Heaven’s King. It’s the procession of Jatra. Indra Jatra is God Indra’s Day festival. Indra Jatra is the Kathmandu festival, Nepal’s capital. Some people believe that Indra Jatra thanks Lord Indra for the rain day. The festival is celebrated in honor of Bahirab, who is the manifestation of Shiva and…
Shikali Jatra is celebrated in Khokana, a medieval Newari heritage village in the southern part of the Kathmandu Valley, by a section of the ethnic Newar community. Although the villagers practice Hindus, Dashain is not celebrated. They watch the colorful Shikali Jatra instead of Dashain. The five-day long festival is devoted to Shikali goddess also…
