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NAME OF FESTIVAL
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DATE
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VENUE
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DESCRIPTION
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New Year
(Biska Jatra)
|
13th April
|
Bhaktapur
|
The chariots of Bhairav and Bhadrakali are drawn around Bhaktapur for 9 days to celebrate the event.
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Ram Nawami
|
13th April
|
All over the Nepal
|
Lord Ram, the main character in the Ramayan, is especially revered in Janakpur.
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Sindoor Jatra
|
14th April
|
Madhyapur-Thimi,Bode
|
Tongue preaching Jatra is a traditional colorful celebration.
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Matatirtha Aunsi (Mother’s Day)
|
19th April
|
Matatritha near Thankot
|
Take a ceremonial bath at Matatirtha, whose mother passed away last year. Mothers who are still alive are honored with sweets and presents.
|
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Rato Machhendranath Temple
|
23rd April
|
Patan-Lalitpur
|
Lord Machhendranath’s chariot is pulled through Patan’s streets until it reaches Jawalkhel, where the festival concludes with the Bhoto (waistcoat) Jatra.
|
|
Buddha Jayanti
(Buddhist New year)
|
4th May
|
All over the Nepal
|
Buddhist monasteries, particularly at Boudhanath and Swaymbhunath, are places of prayer and worship.
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Sithi Nakha or Kumari Sarstha
|
25th May
|
All over the valley
|
The start of the rainy season and a day to clean the wells.
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Harisayani Ekadashi
|
28th June
|
All over the Nepal
|
On the year’s holiest Ekadashi, sacrifices to Lord Vishnu, the preserver, and public meat sales are prohibited.
|
|
Teachers’ worship day
|
2nd July
|
All over the Nepal
|
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Ghanta Karna
|
15th July
|
All Newar Settlement
|
Festival to commemorate the killing of a demon; huge straw monster statues are burned in all of Bhaktapur’s toles.
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|
Gunla
|
17th July
–
15th August
|
Kathmandu Valley
|
Buddhist holy month — Throughout the month, all Buddhist shrines become hubs for a variety of religious events.
|
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Naga Panchami
|
20th August
|
All over the Nepal
|
The Naga (Scared Snakes) are worshipped on this day to protect people from floods.
|
|
Rachhya Bandhan / Janai Purnima
|
30th August
|
|
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Kumbeswor Mela/Sringa Veri Jatra
|
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Patan, Banglamukhi
|
Musical instruments from the past are ornamented and performed.
|
|
Sa:Paru (Gai Jatra)
|
31st August
|
Bhaktapur
|
The Gai Jatra carnival, a colorful and satirical spectacle, is paraded across town.
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|
Matya
|
1st September
|
Patan-Lalitpur
|
Buddhist festival of light to commemorate Buddha’s victory against vice.
|
|
Shree KrishnaAastami
|
6th September
|
All over the Nepal
|
Lord Krishna’s birthday – main character of Hindu epic Mahabharat / Krishna Mandir of Patan Durbar Square is the focus point.
|
|
Pancha Dan
|
|
All over the valley especially – Swambhunath
|
Buddhist monks sing cymas while women standing in front of their homes hand rice and grains to the priests as they pass.
|
|
Gokarana Aunsi
(Father’s day)
|
14th September
|
All over the Nepal
|
People who have lost their dad take a ritual bath in Gokarna, while their children deliver sweets and gifts to their live dad.
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|
Teej
|
17th September
|
All over the Nepal
|
Ladies fast for 24 hours in order to pray to Shiva for the well-being of their husbands and single women in the hopes of finding husbands on this holy day.
|
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Rishi Panchami
|
19th September
|
|
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Indra Jatra
|
27th September
|
Kathmandu Valley
|
In downtown Kathmandu, a chairot of Kumari, Ganesh, and Bhairav is hauled.
|
|
World Tourism Day
|
27th September
|
All over the Nepal
|
International Inviters are felicitated with various detivities.
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|
Gathasthapana
|
15th October
|
All over the Nepal
|
To kick off the grandest event and the best season, barley seeds are planted and a Kalash is placed in the prayer room.
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|
Phulpati
|
20th October
|
All over the Nepal
|
The festival’s seventh day has arrived. For the Hanuman Dhoka Parade, religious objects and flowers are carried from Gorkha Durbar.
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Maha Aastami
|
21st October
|
All over the Nepal
|
Ganesh, Kumar, and Kumari are all names for small children who are venerated.
|
|
Maha Nawami
|
22nd October
|
All over the Nepal
|
At Taleju, male animals are sacrificed to worship Durga and Kali.
|
|
Dashami
|
23rd October
|
All over the Nepal
|
Dashain’s main day; worship Nava Durga at Bhaktapur’s Brahmani Temple; put Tika, receive blessings from elders.
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|
Tihar or Dipawali
|
12th -15th October
|
All over the Nepal
|
Yama, the God of Death, is honored with a five-day light festival.
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Chatt Parba (Terai)
|
18th November
|
All over the Nepal
|
Worshipping the Sun and having a sacred plunge in the pond rivers is one of Terai’s most important festivals.
|
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Haribodhani Ekadasi
|
22nd November
|
|
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Gujeswori Jatra, worship of the Goddess
|
7th December
|
|
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Indraiani Puja and Nhaya Gaya Jatra festival
|
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Bala Chaturdasi
|
11th December
|
Pashupatinath Temple
|
Following a holy bath in the Bagmati River, pilgrims travel through the Mrigasthali forest, sprinkling various seeds in memory of Balla the dead.
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|
Yomari Puni or Dhanya Purni
|
26th December
|
Newari Settlement
|
After the rice harvest, the festival is commemorated by praying for the greatness of Mother Earth and preparing rice flour with concentrated sugarcane juice.
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|
Maha Shiva Ratri
|
8th March
|
All over the Nepal, especially at Pashupatinath
|
Pay obeisance to Shiva by remaining awake throughout the entire night in all toles and squares.
|
|
Tibetain New year (Lhosar)
|
8th March
|
Sherpa and Lama community
|
|
|
Fagu Purnima (HOLI)
|
25th March
|
All over the Nepal
|
Colorful festival; playing with colors for fun and frolic.
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|
Ghode Jatra
|
8th April
|
Kathmandu
|
Worship Mapa Deyo and Nepalese Army perform horsemanship and gymnastic at Tundhikhel.
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|
Chaite Dashain / Seto Machhindranath Jatra
|
|
Kathmandu
|
Chariot of Machhindranath is pulled through the streets fo Kathmandu and worship to God of rain.
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Bhaktapur