Religion and spirituality are core aspects of life in Nepal – and consequently for most first generation settlers in the UK (especially older and elderly family members) — that has been said that “every other building is a temple, and every other day is a festival.” There are hundreds of religious festivals throughout the year. Most are related to Hindu or Buddhist gods or tradition, but some honour personal relatives or ancestors, while others mark the passing of the seasons or agricultural cycles. They may be celebrated at temples or other religious sites (such as rivers), or at home (this practice transfers substantially to almost all Nepali family homes in the UK). Most culminate in feasting within the family. They are part of the common heritage, and bring people together whatever their creed or ethnic or cultural background.
Tikka Blessings: The image above is of Tikka and Jamara (young shoots of Wheat Grass), the two elements of the famous Tikka Blessing that takes place during perhaps the most famous of Nepali festivals (Autumn), Dashain; celebrated by all Nepali Hindus (80%+ of the total population of Nepal) and the Kirat people of Nepal. The blessing is officiated by the most senior, elderly member of Nepali families, to family members and friends coming together at a family home for Dashain. The Tikka (red powder) is more famous in the general British population through the ‘Chicken Tikka’ dishes available in UK Indian restaurants and ready/microwavable and tinned curries in British supermarkets: Tikka is a particular strong red powder. The Tikka (moist) is applied by the elder to the central space of the forehead, and the Jamara is placed behind both ears, and for mass blessings for mainly above the right ear. Tikka blessings (without Jamara) are also made as honorific blessings at special moments and occasions throughout the year, such as on return from or commencement of an international journey, or when one succeeds in a major accomplishment such as a graduation, news about or adoption of a new job or post.
Main Festivals, and the Nepali Calendar:
Nepalis in the UK, as in Nepal, follow the ‘Vikram Sambat’ Solar calendar, which is fifty-seven years ahead of the Western calendar. However, Nepali Newaris and Sherpas have their own separate calendars and, consequently, New Years (detailed elsewhere in this information resource, such is in its Sherpa Component). The Nepali year begins in mid-April (Nepali New Year or Nepali Sambat) and consists of twelve months that are out of step with the Western ones.
January/February:
Basant Panchami marks the beginning of spring and is devoted to Saraswati, the goddess of learning. Schoolchildren make offerings at her shrines to bring success in learning.
Losar, the Sherpa-Tibetan New Year, is observed by Tibeto-Burman people with folk songs and dancing at the new moon in February.
February/March:
Shivaratri brings thousands of sadhus and other pilgrims from all over Nepal and India to Pashupatinath. People bathe in the Bagmati. At night, hundreds of oil lamps are lit and an all-night vigil is held. Picture from Pashupatinath Temple in the 19th Century, followed by image of two Sadhus (Holy Men) at Pashupatinath (Image courtesy of Tom Pouncy):
Holi – the Festival of Colours (also known in Nepali as ‘Fagu Purnima’) — heralds the beginning of spring and looks forward to the coming harvest. People roam the streets throwing coloured powder and water at each other.
You can learn more about this now globally famous Hindu festival at https://www.welcomenepal.com/whats-on/holi-fagu-purnima.html
Festival of Rato Machhendranath, (in Kathmandu the image of the god Rato Machhendranath ‘Red Machhendranath’) is transported around Patan on a tall, precarious-looking wooden chariot that dwarfs the men heaving it along on its solid wooden wheels). Rato Machhendranath is believed to have great influence over the monsoon. For Nepali Buddhists Machhendranath is Lokeshvara, lord of the world. The festival is thus celebrated by both Hindus and Buddhists, and was traditionally attended by the king, and the Kumari Devi, who gave the king her blessing.
April/May:
Nepali New Year (Nepal Sambat): The Bisket Jatra festival marks the Nepali New Year, which starts at the beginning of the Nepali month of Baisakh, approximately Mid-April. This is an official public holiday, and the Embassy of Nepal in particular enables Nepal Sambat formal programmes of celebration.
‘On the Nepali calendar, Nepal Sambat comes at the beginning of the Lunar month called “Navavarsh”. As an agricultural country, it is to embark the beginning of spring when the people needs to start sowing crops.’ Gyan Gurung. NAW President
Mani Rimdu is a major three-day Sherpa festival at the full moon in May and celebrates the vanquishing of the ancient Tibetan Bon religion by Buddhism.
Buddha Jayanti is celebrated by both Hindus and Buddhists to mark the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha (a reincarnation of Vishnu for Hindus). It is celebrated formally under the auspices of the Embassy of Nepal in London’s Trafalgar Square. ‘Buddha Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon day in the Nepali calendar, which is normally in May. On this day people celebrate the life of Lord Buddha; his birth, enlightenment and death (Mahaparinirvana).’ NAW President, Gyan Gurung.
July/August:
At the festival of Janai Purnima, Bahun and Chhetri men change the janai (sacred thread) that they wear from left shoulder to right hip to symbolize purity. Everyone is given a thread to be tied around their wrist on this day as a protective talisman for the rest of the year.
Gai Jatra venerates the cow. The Newar people believe that cows will lead them to the next world after death.
August/September:
Teej, traditionally dedicated to the Goddess Parvati, is a special, three-day festival for women, involving a major feast, the Dar (named after ‘heavy food’ or Daro khana), followed by rigorous fasting, ritual bathing to wash away sin, and dancing. They pray for the longevity of their husbands and the success of their marriages. Teej also celebrates the start of the monsoon.
Indra Jatra marks the end of the monsoon and is celebrated enthusiastically by both Hindus and Buddhists. In Kathmandu it involves a procession of three golden chariots taken around the city, carrying the Kumari (the Living Goddess) and her attendants—two boys dressed up as Ganesh and Bhairab.
September–December:
Dashain is the most important festival for UK Nepalis. People celebrate by eating good food and buying new clothes. It takes place after the monsoon, in late September or early October. It is also known as Durga Puja, as it celebrates the slaying of the buffalo demon Mahisasura by the goddess Durga.
Certain days of Dashain are more significant than others. In Nepal on the first day the devout bathe and plant barley in sand and water taken from the river. On the seventh day, Fulpati (“sacred flowers”), flowers are brought from the old palace of Prithvi Narayan Shah at Gorkha to the king at Hanuman Dhoka in Kathmandu. The eighth day is Kala Ratri (“black night”), when eight buffaloes and a hundred-and-eight goats are decapitated in Durbar Square, Kathmandu, ideally with one chop of the knife.
During Dashain, most people will have goat for dinner. Family visits are made on the tenth day and parents put tikkas on their children’s foreheads and shoots of the barley planted on the first day in their hair.
Tihar (Nepali name for ‘Deepawali’ / ‘Divali’), also known as the Festival of Lights, lasts five days and is celebrated toward the end of October or early November. On the first day, crows (messengers of the god of death) are honoured. On the second day, dogs are honoured for their role in guiding the deceased across the river of the dead; this day is known as ‘Kukur Tihar’ or ‘Kukur Puja (Kukur is the name for dog in Nepali). Cows are garlanded on the third day, bullocks on the fourth, and the fifth day is called Bhai Tikka (Brothers’ Day), when sisters honour their brothers with tikkas and blessings, and gifts are exchanged. On the third, most important day, also known as Lakshmi Puja, people light up their homes with candles and wick lamps in order to usher in Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. As with many festivals, Tihar ends with a family feast. The festival marks the end of the Nepali lunar calendar, auspicious for new beginnings and for prosperity, business and health.
Sita Bibaha Panchami recalls the marriage of Rama and Sita and in Nepal is celebrated mainly in Janakpur, birthplace of Sita, in late November or early December.
The festival is particularly important in the famous Hindu pilgrimage city of Janakpur (one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the whole of the Hindu world: especially ) in the Terai, where it is believed that Sita and Lord Ram married. The Janaki Mandir [Temple] to the Goddess Sita is the most important of all. Thousands of pilgrims come to Janakpur, ancient capital of the Mithila Kingdom that spanned the Janakpur area and neighbouring districts in Nepal, and much of the state of Bihar in India, to celebrate Sita Bibaha Panchami. Image of Janakpur below:
