Festivals And Celebrations In Kathmandu in 2023
Holi is the festival of colors and also the significance of the victory of good against evil. it is celebrated in Fagupurnima which is at the time of February march every year. It is a festival mainly celebrated by the Hindus as a day celebrated for the death of evil asur Holika. People share sweets and love with each other and put colors and water to each other and enjoy it. Lots of people also prefer to drink bhang lassi during this festival. It is celebrated for two days. This festival not only brings color for a day it gives hope for people to do good, joy in their faces, and love among each other.
Holi Festival Dates in 2023
- 8 - March 2023 around Kathmandu
- 9 - March 2023 inside Terai Region)
Vijaya Dashami Festival in Kathmandu
Vijaya Dashami is considered to be the biggest festival of Nepalese people although it is a festival of Hindu it is enjoyed by every people. the translation of Vijaya Dashami outcomes to be victory and ten days that is from the Hindu mythical belief goddess Durga purified the world from the evil by killing them in those ten days and that’s why it is celebrated for ten days at the time of October November annually. It is also called Dashain. The first day is Ghatasthapana when people put mixed grains in the soil to grow Jamara. And the days pass performing different rituals each day the eighth-day people make swings to play and hunt down goats as Bali to goddess Durga and on the last day people put on tika and blessings from the elder ones and Dashain is ended. During this festival people clean their surroundings, eat good food and wear new clothes. This festival brings joy and happiness in every face and lets them drown in joy.
- Dashain Festival Dates; OCT 21 to OCT 25 2023
Tihar Festival in Kathmandu
Tihar is one of the biggest festivals of the Hindu community. This is the festival about brother and sister and their love. This festival comes just in a short period after Dashain ends. It is celebrated for five days, each day celebrating and respecting different things and animals. First-day Kaag (Crow) Tihar when the birds crow known as a messenger for humans is worshipped, then the Kukur (Dog) Tihar, a dog who guards our houses are worshipped. Then Laxmi puja and Gai puja, goddess of wealth Laxmi and cow are worshipped, in this day girls play Bhaili singing and dancing in traditional costumes. Also, the houses are decorated and lighted up with lights and candles to win over darkness. Next is Govardhan puja, the ox who is crucial for farmers and is a sign of Lord Shiva is worshipped and likewise, the boys sing deusi songs. The last day is Bhai Tika, sisters put seven-colored tika to their brothers and give good food, and put on malas made of Makhamali flower in the belief that lord of death Yamaraj will extend their brother's life along. In exchange, brothers gift their sister's beautiful dresses money, and other things they want. overall this festival brings to light in the dark and respect to the animals too.
- Tihar Festival Dates; 11 Nov to 15 Nov 2023
Chhath Parba Celebration In Kathmandu
This auspicious occasion is celebrated all over the country but especially in the southeastern part of Nepal. It is amazingly celebrated in Terai and inner Terai mainly by women. It is celebrated for three days and in November. The sun is worshipped in this festival praying it to keep them away from diseases. The first day includes cleaning the environment. The second day is for collecting various fruits, food, and nuts. People gather around the bank of the river at the end of the day and light up oil lamps and let them float in the water which is the best thing to witness at that time. And the last day they worship the sun and pray for a disease-free life.
- Chhath Festival Dates; 19 Nov 2023
Gaijatra Festival in Kathmandu
Gaijatra is one of the beautiful festivals celebrated for a beautiful reason. This amazing festival is mainly celebrated by the Newar community. The day to celebrate is set according to the Lunar Nepal Era which falls in August or September. According to Hindu myth When King Pratap Malla lost his son the queen got stuck in the grief of his death then the king decided to bring out a rally of people who have lost someone once in a life. There was almost every family, this helped the queen and king to diminish the grief and move on. That day onward they decided to dedicate a day of a year in the memory and respect of the dead ones and the holy animal cow which helped them in the way of heaven were brought out. in this way, this festival was started to celebrate and people as that day come out for a rally with cows and the other things reflecting dead ones. This festival brings out hope for people to overcome their grief and accept the rule of nature.
- Gai Jatra Festival Date; September 01 2023
Shivaratri is also the biggest festival celebrated by Hindus of Nepal. It is the festival to worship Lord Shiva and Shakti and their greatness. This festival is celebrated on the 8th March 2024. it is a myth that the stars of the northern hemisphere which raise a person’s spiritual energy are in the optimum distance and it is also believed that Lord Shiva performed the Tandava cosmic dance on that day. The main center for this celebration is Shree Pashupatinath who is also considered the guardian of Kathmandu. The pilgrims from different places gather and chant songs of Shiva like om Nama Shivaya or the chant called mahamrityunjya Jaap. People sit all-around a bonfire and stay awake the whole night filled with the love of Shiva. Learn More about the Shivaratri Festival in Nepal
- Maha Shivaratri Festival Date in 2024: March 8, 2024
It is the biggest street festival celebrated inside the valley. This festival is also known as Yenya (ye= Kathmandu and ya= celebration) which means celebration inside Kathmandu. This festival was initiated in the 10th century to celebrate the foundation of Kathmandu by king Guna Kaam Dev. This festival is celebrated for eight days from the 12th day of the bright fortnight to the 4th day of the dark fortnight. The best venue for this festival is the Durbar squares where people gather and play cultural instruments and enjoy. A pole (branchless tree) is decorated and carried out in different streets of Kathmandu on this occasion.
- Indra Jatra Festival Dates; September 28 2023
Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur
It is the centerpiece of festivals. it is the Jatra of Golden Chariot. This festival is celebrated in mid-April, the last day of the Nepali year calendar. A golden chariot is pulled over streets until it reaches Khalna tole. When it reaches there a pole about 25m is held up high and is demolished the next day as a symbol of ending the day and turning it into a new year. This public occasion is assisted by locals by putting tika to their young ones and this way the new year is brought out to life.
- Bisket Jatra Festival date: April 14 and 15 2023
Sindoor Jatra { Sindur Jatra }
Sindoor Jatra is another biggest celebration in Madyapur Thimi, Bhaktapur, Nepal. Festival of color, chariots, Newari traditional music. For more details about Sindoor Jatra Thimi Festival
- Sindoor Jatra Festival Dates: 2023 April 14 and 15
Seto Machindranath Rath Jatra { Kathmandu }
Consistently Seto Machindranath Rath Jatra begins in around March end (Chaitra Sukla Aastami). This year, the Jatra began on April 9, 2022. The Seto Machindranath (White Machindranath or Machhendranath) is viewed as the divine force of rain and the god for good harvesting. Seto Machindranath Rath Jatra is a traditional festival of the Newar people. During the festival, the statue of Seto Machindranath is carried up to Jamal Tindhara (Durbar Margh) in a small chariot. The statue is then transferred to a bigger chariot, which will be pulled around the core area Ason, Hanumandhoka (Kathmandu Durbar Square), Jaisideval and Lagan.
- Seto Machindranath Jatra Festival Dates: 2023 March 31
Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Dates
Women in Nepal celebrate Hartalika Teej as a celebration of their husbands' long lives and their committed marriage, which will last until their deaths and those of all future generations. Teej is followed to promote marital harmony, the health of one's partner and children, as well as to purify one's own body and spirit. The most well-known event among Nepali women is Teej. The folklore and dances give Teej's traditional values a richer flavor. It is amazing to witness ladies coming to the temple in a fasting and holy spirit while dressed in "Red" and dancing and singing in public. Hari Talika Teej is another name for Teej. Hindu ladies from Nepal commemorate this event all over the world.
- Teej Festival Dates: 18 September 2023
