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Festival Of The Year 2007 |
(Navavarsha) Nepali New Year (14 April 2007): The
Nepalese New Year's Day usually falls in the second week
of April. i .e. the first day of Baisakh. The day is
observed as a national holiday. The people celebrate it
with a great pomp and show. On this occasion, Bisket
Jatra is held in the city of Bhaktapur.
Baisakh Poornima (13 May 2007 Lord Buddha's Birth
Anniversary): As Nepal is the birthplace of Lord Buddha,
the Light of Asia, the triple anniversary of the
Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death is observed with
many colorful ceremonies on this day. People celebrate
the occasion with great veneration paying homage to
Buddha at places kike Swayambhunath, Bouddhanath and
Lumbini.
Red Machchhendranath Rath Jatra (May-June): This
festival is the biggest socio-cultural event of Patan.
The wheeled chariot of a deity known as bungdyo or Red
Machchhendranath is made at Pulchowk and dragged through
the city of Patan in several stages till it reaches the
appointed destination (Lagankhel). The grand finale of
the festival is called the 'Bhoto Dekhaune' or the
"showing of a vest". A similar kind of chariot festival
to Machchhendranath (white) is also held in Kathmandu
city in the month of May-Jun.
Dumji: It is celebrated in all the Sherpa settlements in
the month of July. The Sherpas of Kathmandu and Helambu
region participate in dancing on this day.
Birthday of His Majesty the King: The auspicious
birthday of His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram shah
Dev falls on 07 June 2007 (Asad 23, 2060 BS). This
occasion is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over
the Kingdom.
It marks the birthday of Lord Krishna. On this day,
impressive ceremonies are conducted at the Krishna
Temple in Patan and at Changu Narayan.
Gaijatra (Cow festival): (10 August 2007) It is a
carnival that lasts eight days. Dancing, singing, comedy
and anything that causes mirth and laughter are its
highlights.
Teej: (26 August 2007) Teej is a Hindu festival
celebrated by women. Dancing, folk song and the red
color of women's wedding saris dominate the days of Teej.
Women observe a fast and flock to Shiva temples where
married ones pray for a happy conjugal life and
unmarried ones for a good husband
Indrajatra: (06 September 2007) The festival of Indra,
the God of rain, is observed with great enthusiasm in
Kathmandu Valley. The festival lasts for eight days. The
chariot of Kumari, the Living Goddess, is taken out in
procession through the main streets of Kathmandu. The
festival is specially noted for the echoes of drums and
dancing feet of the masked dancers almost every evening.
Dashain or Durga Puja: (29 Sept - 07 October 2007) The
Dashain festival is the most important festival of the
Nepalese. The entire country is in enthusiastic holiday
mood at the time of the festival. Main day is 2 Oct
2007.
Tihar (Deepawali): (October 22-24, 2007) known as the
festival of Lights, Tihar is celebrated for five days.
Houses are illuminated at night and special sweets of
different varieties are prepared. Main days is 24
October 2007.
Constitution Day: 09 November 2007 (23 Kartrik) The new
Democratic Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal was
promulgated on November 9, 1991. Since then, this day is
observed as the Constitution Day.
Vibhaha Panchami: (25 November 2007) This is a famous
festival of Janakpur in the eastern Terai. The occasion
commemorates the marriage of Sita to Ram, one of the
most venerated Hindu divinities. It attracts thousands
of pilgrims from India to Janaki Temple in Janakpur.
Prithvi Jayanti: This occasion is celebrated in honor of
King Prithvi Narayan Shah, the founder of modern Nepal,
with a colorful ceremony in front of the Singha Durbar
gate in Kathmandu on January 11, 2007 (Poush 27th,
2063).
Losar: 20 Jan 2007 The Sherpas most impressively observe
this festival in the month of February. They organize
folk songs and dances on this occasion. These dances can
be seen in Kathmandu, Helambu and other northern regions
of Nepal and also at Bouddhanath in Kathmandu.
National Democracy Day: This day is officially observed
as Rastriya Prajatantra Divas or National Democracy Day
as a mark of respect to the people's Revolution of
1950-51. It generally falls on February 19, 2007 (i.e.
Phalgun 7)
Maha Shivaratri: (16 February 2007) Shivaratri or the
Night of Lord Shiva is observed. It is celebrated in
honor of Lord Shiva. A great religious fair tales place
in the Pashupatinath Temple and thousands of people from
all over Nepal and India flock the temple to worship
Lord Shiva.
Ghodejatra: (18 March 2007) Known as the festival of
horses, it is one of the most exciting festivals of
Kathmandu. Horse race and other sports take place at
Tundikhel on this day. In other parts of the city,
various deities are carried shoulder-high on palanquin (khat)
to the accompaniment of traditional music |
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