Historical
Places to visit
Machchhendranath
Temple :
The temple of Sweta Machchhendranath is situated at
Machchhendra Bahal between Indra Chowk and Asan. It is a pagoda
of considerable artistic beauty. Also called as Janmadyo
or Machchhendra the deity.
Akash Bhairav Temple :
A three storey temple in the main market avenue, called
Indra Chowk, the image of Akash Bhairav is displayed outside for
a week during Indra Jatra, the festival of Indra - the God
of Rain.
Temple of Kumari (Kumari Ghar) :
The temple or the residence of Living goddess, Kumari, is
situated in the vicinity of Hanuman Dhoka Palace. The building
has profusely carved wooden balconies and window screens. The
Kumari- the living
Goddess, acknowledges the greetings from her balcony window.
Photography is prohibited.
Kasthamandap :
Located near the temple of Kumari, it is said to have been built
by King Laxmi Narsingha Malla in the beginning of the sixteenth
century. It is said to be constructed from the wood of a single
tree. The city of Kathmandu derives its name from this temple.
Jaishi Dewal :
Five minutes from Kasthmandap the Shiva Temple of Jaishi Dewal
is famous for its erotic carvings. It is still one of the main
routes of the chariot festival of Indra Jatra, Gai Jatra and
other festivals.
Tundikhel :
A huge green field, flanks one entire side of the old
city Tundikhei. Some of the important landmarks of
Kathmandu valley are located in the periphery of this area. At
the south western end of Tundikhel is a 59.29m. tower
built by Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa in 1832 A.D. known as Dharahara
(or Bhimsen Stambha). Sundhara-fountains with golden water
spouts is situated at the foot of this great tower also
belonging to the same period.
Martyr's
Memorial (Sahid) Gate :
It is located between Bhimsen Stambha and Bhadrakali
temple. The memorial arch contains the statue of the late King
Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah and the busts of four martyrs.
Bhadrakali
Temple :
As the eastern edge of the Tundikhel, near Shahid Gate
stands the temple of Goddess Bhadrakali. This temple is also
known as Lumarhi Temple and is one of the main "Shakta"
temples of Kathmandu city.
Singha
Durbar :
A grand imposing palace built on the neo-classical style.
Singha Durbar was the private residence of Rana Prime Ministers.
Now it is the Secretariat of His Majesty's Government of Nepal.
Narayanhity Durbar :
It is the present Royal Palace. A famous historic water spout
called Narayanhity, is situated at the southern corner of the
Palace.
Kaisar Library :
Located inside the premises of Ministry of Education,
Kaisar library is a great centre of rare and valuable books and
manuscripts. It is open for the public except Saturdays and
other government holidays.
Balaju Water Garden :
Situated about five kilometers North-west of Kathmandu, Balaju
Garden features fountains with 22 crocodile headed water spout
dating from the mid eighteenth century. There is also a swimming
pool inside the park.
National
Museum :
Two and half kilometers west of Kathmandu, the National
Museum has a splendid collection of weapons, artifacts from
ancient, medieval and modern Nepal. Its archaeological and
historical displays are worth seeing. The museum is open
everyday except Tuesday and government holidays.
Natural History Museum :
Situated three kilometers west of Kathmandu city behind
the famous Swoyambhunath hillock this museum has a unique
collection of butterflies, fish, reptiles, birds, mammals,
plants and a variety of fossils collected within the country.
Photography inside the museum is prohibited.
Rani
Pokhari :
Situated in between Ratna Park and Jamal. This historical
pond has been built by Pratap Malla to sympathize his beloved
wife who was deeply shocked by the death of his son. The pond is
opened for public only at the last day of Tihar - "Bhai
Tika". Those who doesn't have any brothers or sisters visit
Rani Pokhari to pay homage to Lord Shiva on that day.
Licensed
Guides :
All the travel agencies of Kathmandu have licensed English
speaking guides, however, many agencies have also guides who can
speak other international languages for the convenience of
tourist. As unlicensed guides are not allowed to serve clients,
it is advisable to confirm that your guide has valid license. To
have a quality service it is recommended to arrange the
sightseeing programmes only through the government registered
travel agencies.
Kathmandu
as World Heritage site
Kathmandu
Durbar Square
A
very old Hindu text has described Kathmandu as the land of gods
surrounded by beautiful mountains around. Some two hundred years
ago a western Visitor wrote that there were as many temples as
there were houses and many idols as there were people. In fact
Kathmandu boasts one of the largest congregations of magnificent
historical monuments and shrines ever built. Duly recognized as a
world Heritage Site by UNESCO- this particular area best known
as Kathmandu Durbar Square lies in the heart of this city.
Locally also called as Hanuman Dhoka Palace Square-an ancient
seat of the Nepalese Royalty.
Hanuman
Dhoka Palace Complex consists of a huge Royal Square imposing a
tremendous variety of temples dedicated to different Hindu gods
and goddess. Most of the buildings we see here date from 15th
to 18th century.
The
entire Palace Complex here is named after a monkey god called
Hanuman. One can see a huge stone statue of Hanuman painted all
red right next to the main entrance ( the golden gate) of the
palace. Hanuman here is regarded as a powerful protector of the
entire Durbar Square.
Some of the important monuments to be seen here are:
-
Taleju
temple- tallest of all structures built by king Mahendra
Malla in 1549 A.D.
-
Jagannath
temple- built in the 16th century, known for
fascinating erotic figures carving I the wooden struts
eaves.
-
Kal
Bhairav- one of the largest stone idol in Kathmandu
representing the terrifying aspects of Shiva.
-
Statue
of King Pratap Malla in praying gesture to Digu Taleju the
royal family deity right across.
-
Kumari
Ghar- 17th century Kumari temple, an example of
the highly developed Nepalese temple craft.
-
Kasthamandap-
built from the timber of a single tree. The Kathmandu City
derives its name from Kasthamandap.
Besides
this other fascinating part of this palace complex is the
towering Nautale Durbar overlooking the beautiful cityscape and
the vast Basantapur square where Prithivi Narayan Shah built
mansion to commemorate his victory in 1768 A.D. This building
complex is known for the most intricately carved wooden doorways
roof struts and massive lattice windows full of mythical figures
Swoyambhu
Nath Stupa
Located
in a lovely little hill rock Swoyambhu Nath Stupa is one of the
most fascinating architectural jewels of the world. This great
Stoup is said to have been built around 250 B.C.
Generally
a holy memorial site Stoup represents a typical Buddhist
architecture. Its main feature the white dome is identified with
a spotless pure jewel of Nirvana and a thirteen tiered golden
spire in conical shape surmounted on the dome. Underneath this
towering structure are a pair of all seeing eyes of Buddha
painted on all four sides of the Stupa.
The
Stupa of Swoyambhunath stands on a typically stylized lotus
mandala base-a long time ago believed to have originated from a
legendary lake of Kathmandu Valley.
As
the ancient legend goes Kathmandu Valley was a lake a long
time ago. Right in the centre of this lake was a full blown
lotus with the divine light a top. When Maha Manjushri a saint
from China heard about this he came rushing all the way from
China to the Valley. He cut through the southern wall hill of
the valley with his divine sword. The cleft made by the sword
immediately drained the entire lake water making the valley
floor open for a close up view of the divine lotus light.
This holy site in fact is the massive stupa complex ever built
in Nepal. Hundreds of votive shrines and other historical
monuments built in and around this stupa speak a lot about the
significance and antiquity of this famed stupa.
It lies about 3k.m. west of down town Kathmandu. There are two
different ways to reach for this site. One is from the west side
which is relatively a short cut and another is from the east
side where it leads to the main entrance with 360 steps leading
all the way to the top, where the most venerated Swayambhu Stupa
stands-commanding a magnificent view of Kathmandu Valley and the
breathtaking panorama of the north eastern Himalayan range.
Other
important things to be seen here include a magnificent two
tiered golden temple dedicated to Harati. She is the grand
mother deity of children and small pox who was said to be the
Ogress until Lord Buddha converted her to be the great caretaker
of the children.
Not to far from this temple is Dewa Dharma monastery-noted for a
bronze icon of Buddha and traditional Tibetan paintings .
The huge gold plated vajra ' tha priestly symbol of Vajrayana
Buddhism set on the Dharmadhatu mandala at the side of the stupa
is worth a close look.
Important
days to visit this holy site:
1.
Buddha Purnima, the birth day of Lord Buddha which fails on the
full moon day of Baishak (April-May)
2. Gunla the holy Buddhist month according to Newari calendar
(Aug.-Sept., early Morning).
3. Kojagrath Purni (Sept.-Oct.)
4. Samyak day of the Magh (Jan.Feb.) (every twelve years)
Boudha
Nath Stupa
One
of the oldest and the biggest Buddhist monuments ever built in
Nepal, Boudhanath is an imposing structure standing some 36
meters. The Stupa stands on the massive three level mandala
style Platforms surrounded by colourful private family houses.
The basic feature of this great stupa is very much like that of
Swoyambhunath stupa except its finial displaying. It is much
bigger than Swoyambhu stupa and lies on the valley floor whereas
the former one stands on the hill top. This stupa is said
to have been built in 5th century A. D. The site is considered
very much like Mecca for the Tibetan Buddhists and every year
tens of thousands of pilgrims from all over the Himalayan region
visit the stupa.
According
to a very popular legend long time ago the kingdom of Kathmandu
was under terrifying draught. King Dharma Deva was very worried.
An astrologer advised him that only the sacrifice of an ideal
man with 32 virtues in front of the dry royal water spout could
make the rain fall in the country. And in the following night he
commanded his son to go to the dry water spout inside the royal
palace compound at mid night and behead the person shrouded in
white robe without looking at him. The Prince obeyed his father
but to his great horror only to find it was none other than his
own father.
In order to atone the big sin and in removal the prince
said to have built this great stupa. As an entry point of ancient
Nepal-Tibet trade rout, the site is popularly frequented by
Tibetan visitors.
During Lhosar festival the pilgrims worship the Buddhist
deities, light the increase and butter lamp day and night.
Every twelve year a special ceremony is observed with
great gusto and fervor . During that time they dance, play
musical instruments, chant and hymns.
Pasupatinath
Temple
Pasupatinath
is considered one of the holiest shrines of all the Hindu
temples. The temple has remained the presiding deity of ruling
Nepalese Royalty. Located on the banks of the Bagmati
river, this two tiered magnificent golden temple with four
triple silver doorways is unique example of the Nepalese temple
architecture. It is one of the largest Hindu temple complex
in South Asia with hundreds of Shiva lingams, shrines icons of
various Hindu god and goddess insides. This temple site occupies
an area of 281 hectares in total. The main entrance of this
temple is in the western side facing a small street of Deopatan
market. As non Hindus are not allowed to enter this temple
courtyard. They are advised to go on the other side of the river
in the East to have a glimpse of the temple complex. In the
middle of the spring (Feb.-March) every year there occurs a
festival called Shivaratri. The world Shivaratri means the holy
night of Lord Shiva. On this day many devotees visit the
Pashupati Nath temple and make the ceremonial fire. Most of the
devotees spend the night offering prayers to Shiva. This
festival attracts tens of thousand of pilgrims from India
besides the locals. Historically pre-Christian era this temple
seems to have its origin away back to the early Kirat period.
Stone sculptures found in the vicinity support the antiquity of
this place. This holy site is 6 km. east oil down town
Kathmandu. Regular bus and taxi services are easily available
from a city points.
Festivals
in Kathmandu
Maghe
Sankranti : (January)
A
Sankranti signifies the first day of any month in the Nepali
calendar year. Makar means Capricorn. Makar
Sankranti, therefore, means the first day of the month when the
sun enters that part of the zodiac which is symbolized by
Capricorn. It starts on its northward journey in its
heavenly course on this day, thus announcing the commencement of
the Uttarayan. In the Nepalese belief this day marks the
division of the Winter and Summer solstice. Bathing in
rivers is prescribed for this day, especially at the river
confluence and feasting with rich foods of special preparation
is common in the family.
Sri
Panchami or Basant Panchami : (February)
Sri
Panchami announces the advent of the spring season in Nepal.
On this day a religious function known as Basanta Shrawan is
held at the court-yard of Hanuman Dhoka Palace. On this
occasion Geet Govinda (Verses written by Poet Jaya Dev) is
recited by the royal priest and hymns are sung by a concert of
musician in accompaniment with musical instruments. His
Majesty the King graces the function.
It
is the day consecrated to honor Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of
learning, throughout Nepal. Saraswati shrines all over the
Kingdom are filled with the crowd of school children and other
students on this day. Goddess Saraswati reigns over the
realm of speech, letters, arts and sciences, and all her tools
are worshipped accordingly, pens, ink, books, pencils, and
spinning wheels. Around the city are seen numerous wedding
processions. Saraswati temples at Swayambhu and Neel
Saraswati at Gairidhara are worth visiting during the morning.
Maha
Shivaratri : (February)
This
is the most famous and celebrated festival of Nepal which
attracts large crowds from far-Flung places both in India and
Nepal. The festival as its very name suggests, is
consecrated in honor of Lord Shiva. It is observed by
bathing and holding of a religious fast. All Shiva shrines
become the places of visit for dracaena, but the greatest
attraction of all is held by the temple of Pashupatinath in
Kathmandu. One gets to see hundreds of thousand of devout
Hindus coming to visit the temple of Pashupati on this day.
On this day religious Hindus worship Lord Shiva by offering
flowers, garlands, 'bel patra' (leaves of 'bet' f rub), fruits,
coins and so on and also by chanting prayers and hymns.
Among them are a large number of Sadhus and ascetics. Many
people like to keep awake for the whole night keeping vigilance
over an oil lamp burnt to please Shiva. Children are seen
keeping awake similarly over a bonfire in many localities.
In the afternoon an official function is held to celebrate this
festival at Tundikhel. The Royal Nepalese Army organizes a
show in which volleys of gunfire are sounded. The ceremony
is witnessed by His Majesty the King.
Phagu
Poornima or Holy : (March-April)
Holi
is the festival of colour. It is observed for eight days
just before the full moon of Phalgun during which time townsmen
indulge in colour throwing at each other. The festival of
colour is always heralded by the sticking of wooden pole known
as chir with colourful streamers beside the old royal palace at
Basantapur by the arrangement of the Government Religious
Endowment (Guthi) Office. This festival is observed with
most joy and gaity in the Terai region of the country. The
festival is terminated with the burning of the pole on the night
preceding the Phalgun full moon.
Ghodejatra
: (March-April)
Ghodejatra
or the festival of horse is held on-the fourteenth of the dark
half of the Chaitra (sometime in March or April). The
festival has two sides of its celebration. Its cultural
side involves the Newars of Kathmandu who celebrate it for
several days. The idols of the gods of many localities are
taken in a procession in their area in portable chariots.
Every household is feasting at this time. A demon called 'Gurumumpa' is
also propitiated at this time in Tundikhel. This festival
is called Pahachare. The other aspect of the festival is
provided by
the function organised by the Royal Nepalese Army at
Tundikhel in the afternoon of the main day. Horse race and
acrobatic shows are presented at this time in which His Majesty
the King is present. A meeting of Lumadi, Bhadrakali,
Kankeshwari and Bhairav takes place during the day time at the
main celebration at Ason. The deities are brought in their
portable chariots. The same festival is repeated at night
in Tundikhel.
Chaite
Dashain : (March-April)
Dashain
is a great festival of Nepalese people. In Nepal it is
observed twice a year-once in the month of Chaitra and once in
Ashwin (Sept-Oct.). The former is observed on the eighth of the
bright half of the month of Chaitra. On this occasion
goddess Bhagawati is worshipped and animal sacrifices are made
to her. But this festival is not observed with so much
pomp and grandeur as the one which is observed in Autumn.
Nava
Varsha : (April 13 or 14th)
The
Nepalese festivals follow round the traditional ,religious'
Lunar Calendar in the same sequence. An exception is New
Year Day, which always fails in the middle of April, observed
throughout Nepal as the first day of the official Nepalese solar
Calendar, i.e., the first day of Baisakh. This day is an
official holiday for Nepal. The most important New year festival
in the Valley is held at Bhaktapur City, located fourteen
kilometers
on east of Kathmandu. This festival is known as Bisket
Jatra meaning the festival after the death of serpent. The
main attraction of the festival is the erection of the 'lingo',
a ceremonial pole, a thick, shorn tree-trunk some eighty feet in
length. This is an exciting operation, for the pole,
supported by bamboos and pulled by heavy ropes, must be made to
rest in the centre hole of a large pile of cemented rocks.
A large crowds from other town of the Valley assemble to watch
this festival. During the week Bhairav, Bhadrakaii and
other goddesses are dragged in chariots in the town. This
is the biggest festival of Bhaktapur.
Festival
of Seto Machchhendranath (March-April)
This
is a four-day chariot festival held in honor of the White (Seto)
Machchhendranath (to be distinguished from the Red (Rato) form
of the same divinity in Patan), who is actually the Padmapani
Lokeshwara, whose permanent shrine is situated at Janabahal in
Kel Tole in the middle of the old bazaar in Kathmandu. A
huge chariot of wood supported on four large wheels and carrying
a tall spire covered with green foliage is made ready for
receiving the image of the divinity on this occasion and for
dragging in the old part of city. There is such a
spontaneous and heavy turn out of the devout people to pay
obeisance of this god, who is also said to be the 'embodiment of
compassion', at this time.
Matatirtha
Aunsi or Mother's Day (April)
This
day is observed as the Mother's Day with the expression of
proper regards towards one's mother. It is individually
performed by persons out of filial piety. Those whose
mothers are already dead go to bathe and offer ablutions to
their dead mothers at Matatirtha near Thankot village. The
fortunate ones whose mothers are alive present her with gifts of
sweetmeats and receive blessing from them. This day is an
official holiday in Nepal.
Buddha
Jayanti : (full moon day of April/May)
Buddha
Jayanti is a great day for the Nepalese. This day which
falls on the full moon of the month of Baisakh is celebrated to
commemorate the birth, attainment of enlightenment and the death
of Gautama Buddha, the founder preacher of Buddhism, more than
2500 Years ago. It is a thrice blessed day. It is
the day when Buddha was born, when he was enlightened and when
he got Nirvana (Salvation). prayers are sung and worship is
offered by the devotees in leading Buddhist shrines throughout
the country including Lumbini in the Rupandehi district, which
is the birth place of Lord Buddha, the Light of Asia.
There is a great fair held at Lumbini on this day.
Ghanta
Karna : (June -July)
Ghanta
Karna is also known as 'Gathyamuga'. This festival is a
relic of the belief in demonolatry by the people of the Valley.
Ghanta Karna, a demon and other evil spirits are propitiated and
exercised on this day. An effigy made of green reeds is
erected at all the main cross-roads of the town in the day.
A person is painted in all kinds of colour till he looks like a
grotesque figure representing the demon Ghanta Karna. This
symbolic demon goes begging in the locality. At the end of
the day he is dragged to a river on the green reeds symbolizing
the driving away of the demon from the locality.
Naga
Panchami : (July-August)
This
is devoted to the worship of the Nagas, the divine serpents.
Pictures of the Naga are stuck over the doorposts of all the
houses in the morning as protective spells. This is also
the day for the beginning of Gunialakhe dance in Kathmandu in
which persons wearing masks of a demon entertain the people with
their gimmick.
Janai
Poornima (Rokshya Bandhon) (July-August)
The
full-moon of the month of Shrawan, the day when this festival is
observed, is considered sacred ail over Nepal and is celebrated
in different manner by different groups of people of Nepal.
However, the most widely accepted mode of celebration is that on
this day people take a ritual bath and change their sacred
thread. Everyone gets a string of thread tied in his wrist
from the Brahmans as a protective mark for the whole year.
The Nepalese prepare a special dish called 'Kwati, (mixed
sprouted beans) on this day. This day is also held sacred
for bathing in Gosainkunda. One can also see a pageantry
of the Jhankris (witch doctors) attired in their traditional
costume come to bathe at Kumbheshwor at Patan. These
Jhankris also visit the temple of Kaiinchowk
Bhagavati (the goddess at Kalinchowk) in Dolkha district where
they go to beg for their healing powers, as they are the
traditional healers of the Nepalese villagers.
Gaijatra
: (July-August)
In
this festival teen-aged boys dressed up in the attire of a cow
parade in the streets of the town. This custom spring from
the belief that cows help the members of the family, who have
died within that year, to travel to heaven smoothly. Some
are also dressed up as an ascetic or a fool for achieving the
same objective to their dead family members. Groups of
mimics improvise short satirical enactments on the current
sociopolitical scenes of the town to the entertainment of the
public. The week beginning from Janai Poornima actually
unfolds a season of good many religious and cultural activities.
All the Buddhist monasteries open their gates to the visitors to
view their bronze sculptures and collection of painting for a
week. At Patan, one observes the festival of Mataya at
this time. The festivity of Gaijatra itself lasts for a
week enlivened by the performance of dance and drama in the
different localities of the town. The spirit of the old
festival is being increasingly adapted by Cultural Centres,
newspapers and magazines of fling humor and satire on the
Nepalese social and political life.
Pancha
Dan: (July-August)
This
is a Buddhist festival in which gifts are made by the laity to
the monks. Since monastic Buddhism has been long extinct
in Nepal, the receivers of the gift today are the Buddhist
priests, the Shakyas and the Vajracharyas, who go begging aims to
the house of their clients. Mainly food grains are offered
on this occasion to the begging priests. Traditional
collections of artifacts are displayed in monasteries and
households on this occasion.
Gokarna
Aunsi or Father's Day: (August-September)
This
day is observed as the Father's Day with the expression of
proper regards towards one's father. It is individually
performed by persons out of filial piety. Those whose
fathers are already dead go to bathe and perform shraddha
ceremony in honor of their dead fathers at Gokarna. The
fortunate ones whose fathers are alive present him with gifts of
sweetmeat and delectable food and drink and receive blessings in
return from them. Government offices are closed on this
day.
Teej
and Rishi Panchani: (August-September)
Teej
or Haritalika is purely a women's festival. These two days
follow in close succession and are the days of observing
religious fast for women folks of Nepal. On the day of
Teej
all the women observe fasting for twenty-four hours for the
longevity of their husbands' life and go to visit the shrine
of Pashupati and offer worship to Lord Shiva and his consort
Parvati later in the evening. The Panchami is mainly
devoted to cleaning the body by taking ritual bath in rivers for
any sin or impurity the women folks may have committed during the
past year. On this day women worship the seven Rishis in
reminiscence of a high ascetic tradition of Hinduism and a notion
of purity of descent in their lineage from the ancestral Rishis.
All women whose husbands are alive are seen wearing red garments
invariable and decked in all sorts of jewellery on these two
days.
Indrajatra:
(August-September)
Like
Gaijatra it also heralds a week of religious and cultural
festivity in Kathmandu. There are several foci of this
festival. On the night when this festival begins, members
of the family in which death has taken place within one year go
round the town limits of Kathmandu burning incense and putting
lamps along the route. The same morning a tall wooden pole
representing the standard of lndra, the king of gods is erected
in front of the Hanuman Dhoka Palace. Wooden statutes of
lndra and large wooden masks of Bhairav are put on display in
the old bazaar. Several groups of religious dance like the
Devinach, Majipat Lakhe, Bhairav and Bhakku and Mahakaii Nach
come into life during this week. The week also commences
the dragging of chariots of Ganesh, Bhairav and Living Goddess
Kumari in Kathmandu. His Majesty the King comes to pay
homage to Kumari just before the start of the chariot-pulling.
Bada
Dashain (September-October)
It is truly the national festival of Nepal. Every
Nepai is stirred by the prospects of the joy this festival is
supposed to bring with it. The change of mood is also
induced psychologically by the turn off autumn season after blue
sky and a green carpet of fields. The climate is also put
ideal at this time, it neither being too cold nor too warm.
The Nepalese cherish their Dashain as a time for eating well and
dressing well. The whole festival lasts a total of ten
days. The first nine days are devoted to worship the
goddess Durga Bhavani and her diverse manifestations. Each
house also sets up a shrine to worship the goddess at this time.
Barley seeds are planted on the first day in every household and
nurtured for nine days. During the nine days goddess Durga
Bhavani is worshipped and offered a lot of blood sacrifice.
Buffaloes, goats and chickens are killed in thousands at the
temples, at military posts and in every household. One of
the main centres that witnesses the animal sacrifice in a large
scale at this time is the Hanuman Dhoka Palace on the night of
the eighth day and the morning of the ninth. On the
concluding day of the festival called the tika, the elders of
the family give tika to their junior members and to other
relatives who may also come to seek their blessing. The
fresh shoots of the barley known as 'Jamara' are also given to
wear. Family feasting and feasting of guests is a common
practice at this time. On the day of Vijaya Dashami people
go to Narayanhity Royal Palace to receive tika from Their
Majesties the King and the Queen.
Tihar
and Laxmi Puja: (Festival of Lights,October-November)
This
festival comes just after a fortnight of the departure of
Dashain from the scene. The earlier festival mood helped
on by the turn of a genial weather continues to glow the mind of
the Nepalese during this festival also. The festivity
lasts for five days and is marked by worship to different
animals such as the crow, the dog and the cow on different days.
Perhaps the most endearing sight of this festival is presented
by the illumination of the entire town with rows of tiny
flickering lamps at the duskbreak on the day of Laxmi Puja.
In the evening of this day, the goddess of wealth, Laxmi, is
worshipped at every household and it is in her welcome that
myriads of lamps are burnt. On the last day, sisters show
their affection towards their brothers with the performance of a
puja and feed them with delectable food. They pray for
their brother's long life to Yama, the Hindu god of death.
Bala
Chaturdashi: (November-December)
Pilgrims
from ail over Nepal throng at Pashupati temple from the night
before and burn an oil lamp to the god for the whole night.
In the morrow they take a holy dip in the sacred water of the
Bagmati, pay obeisance to Pashupati and traverse the route
prescribed for that occasion scattering 'a hundred variety of
seeds' in Kailash forest of Pashupati so that their dead
relations may reap the fruit of this merit in the next world.