Matatirtha Aunsi

Nepali Mother’s Day, Mata Tirtha Aunsi (मातातीर्थ औंसी) is a mother’s festival, since it is Nepal’s Mother’s Day, which falls in the first month of the Nepali calendar, Baisakh (April/May). It occurs on the last day of April or early May‘s dark fortnight. It is a day to express gratitude and affection to one’s mother. 

The festival of Mother’s Day does not have any specific celebrations. There is no set ritual or event that everyone must follow, rather it is up to the individual. Spending time with their mother, cooking for her, and getting her gifts are all ways that people demonstrate their love and respect for her. Children who live far away from their mothers bring gifts or sweets to see her. Even small children set aside money from their allowance to buy gifts for their mothers. 

In local language, Mata Tirtha Aunsi is now known as Aamako Mukh Herne Din (Day for Seeing Mother’s Face). Children get up early, bathe, and bring gifts or sweets to their mothers early in the morning. Those who live further away may arrive a day early and spend the next day with her, or they may arrive later in the day. Those who have lost their mothers pay their respects to the Mata Tirtha, a historic pilgrimage bathing site located six miles southwest of Kathmandu. It consists of two ponds, the largest of which is used for bathing and the smaller of which is used to “gaze upon the face of one’s mother.” Legend has it that during the reign of the cowherds in Nepal, one of the cowherds lost his mother and became so distraught that he went to a forest water storage pond to make offerings. He was astounded to see his mother’s visage materialize in the water and accept his gifts. 

 

This day became known as Mata Tirtha Aunsi, or Nepali Mother’s Day, from then on. People believe that paying honor to their mother’s departed spirit on this day provides tranquility to her soul. As a result, the mother’s day festival is significant in Nepali culture since it is the day on which children express their love and thanks to their mothers. It’s the day to show your mother how much she means to you.