Ghode Jatra 2008

According to legend, the ancient people of Kathmandu Valley had defeated an evil demon and they buried in on the site at Tudikhel show grounds. Then there a custom was created and it is said that unless the ground is trampled on by the horses every year, the demon will rise again. It is believed that once the devil arises again it will wreak a terrible vengeances on the people again as it had done once. So, each year the Ghode Jatra festival is organized by Nepalese Army. Ghoda means horse and Jatra means festival in Nepali language. Lots of demonstration of horse riding along with some stunts like motorcycle stunts, cultural performances, gymnastic displays, and other programs by Nepalese Army can been seen on this day at Tudikhel, Kathmandu.

Usually the King of Nepal is invited as the special chief guest but since the changes in our nation has occurred, the head of the nation has been invited as the special chief guest. Last year our prime minister, Girija Prasad Koirala, attended the festival. This year too he was invited but he didn't attend the festival owing to some personal problems of his own. There is no entrance fee for this festival and anyone can view it on the big showground in the center of the valley. Some national television have the live telecasting of the festival as well.

Pahan Chahre

I haven’t written anything about culture for some time now. I have been discouraged and out focused by Google by the decreasing popularity and ranking in their system. Financially every blogger need some help to sustain their lifestyle. I am a professional blogger and I depend on my blogs to pay my bills but rules of Google really hurts my rankings and as of result I am broke. But again I have some values and some respect towards my readers so I am once more making an effort to get my readers what they want. More information regarding Nepal and more information about traveling and tours around the world. But please bear with me if you see any posts non-related to travel and tours as they are my business posts and I need them to survive and continue writing my blogs.

Pahan Chahre

Today is April 04, 2008, and according to our Newari calendar, today is Pahan Chahre. Yet another festival which has values and traditions. Pahan Chahre often is considered and named as Pasa Chahre and the festival can be observed happening around Kathmandu only. Pahan means guest in Newari language and Pasa means a friend and Chahre is festival. So if you combine together the meaning would be festival for friends or guests.

The festival is mainly organized in every homes and friends and families are invited to each other’s house to celebrate the feast. As on every occasion, a God is worshipped and this time it is Mahadev in the form of Pisach also called lukumahadyo. Throughout the year this God, Mahadev, remains under the ground and is often sealed and only this day will it be opened and worshipped. This festival is often known as Pisach Chaturdasi. Different types of bands can be heard throughout the valley and different Gods will be worshiped throughout this week. I will have the detailed review of the day later. It is just 5:48 AM and I am just too excited to see what happens next…

Fulpati 2007

After Ghatasthapana, Fulpati is celebrated as one of the major days of dashain. Fulpati lies on the seventh day of the bright half of the lunar calendar in the month of Ashwin or Asoj and this year year it lied on 18th of October, 2007. On this day, the Fulpati or the jamara for Royal families is carried on foot by the six attendants from the Magar community, a tribe known for their valour during war, from their ancestral Royal Gorkha palace to Rani Pokhari, Kathmandu, and in the evening they are taken to Royal Palace at Hanuman Dhoka along with a huge parade. This is a ritual that symbolises the conquest of the Kathmandu valley more than two centuries ago by the king's ancestor Prithvi Narayan Shah. The Fulpati, an offering of flowers and fruit, is blessed at the temple first. It is then taken to the palace to bring luck and long life to the royal family.

However, from this year, the tradition or the two-century old tradition is broken down and the holy offering went to the residence of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. From this year, the Prime Minister has taken over the king's social and religious roles after the fall of the royal government last year, as he is believed to be ruling the nation and not the king.

I would just like to send a gift to all my friends in New York City in this auspicious occasion of Fulpati. I have found a website with all the New York City nursing homes list in it. I hope this helps out when you are in need of a nursing home out there. Happy Fulpati!!!

Best holiday idea is cruise vacations because it gives a totally new experience. To save your vacation cost last minute cruise deals are best for you. You can get longest trips for Mediterranean cruises. For a good journey you can use cruise clothes however some cruises provide you free like Atlantis cruise.

Ghatasthapana 2007

Ghatasthapana is the celebrated as the first day of the greatest festival of Nepal, Bada Dashain. The “Navaratri Parba” or the night nights festival of Bada Dashain also commences on the same day. The day lies on the first day of the bright half of the lunar calendar in the month of Ashwin or Asoj. This year it lied on 12th of October, 2007.

On the day of Ghatasthapana, all Nepalese worship Diyo (an oil-fed lamp), Kalas (auspicious jar), and Lord Ganesh, and the most of the people sow maize and barley seeds in a jar filled with soil which is brought from the river mostly containing sand and cow dung for germination of the auspicious Jamara (barley shoots). From today, prayers are offered to goddess Mahakali, Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati at the Dasain Ghar, and to all the Durga Bhawani goddess around the city, marking the beginning of the Navaratri. There are so many of shrines called Shaktipith where devotees will visit and offer their homage this dashain. Some of the main shrines are Naxal Bhagawati, Shobha Bhagawati, Maitidevi, Guheswori, Bhadrakali, Kalikasthan, Sankata, Mahankalsthan, Naradevi, Bijayeswori, Indrayani, Dakshinkali, Chamunda, etc.

A lot will be happening from today for the next 15 days. Each day has its own importance and values. I will try to review the each day and try to find out the main happening thing each day and importance of the day from hereforth. For now, it is Ghatasthapana, the first day of the greatest festival that happens on the Bada Dashain.

One more website to visit for my readers. Please view Santa Monica plastic surgery and send me the comments of what you feel of their services.

For promoting air travel many US Airlines are providing attractive deals for their customers. To get cheap airline tickets you can search through websites. The Emirates Airlines are unique travel experience for their customers. You can check airline rate before using their service and customer feedback can also help you. Reviews have ranked Allegiant Airlines as best airline service. Many companies have started airline self-service for satisfaction of their customers. However due to airline on-time statistics helped customer to use airline for their vacations.

Dashain Festival 2007 Ends From Today

One of the greatest festivals in Nepal, Bada Dashain, will end today. I haven't been around to cover up the story behind the each day of those 15 days of Dashain but I will soon write about my experience with all the stories behind the most important festival that happens once a year and celebrated for whole 15 days. All the schools, colleges, and government offices remain closed for these 15 days.

Today is the last day and with it all the festivals spirit ending and people will now turn back to their work and daily lives. I am sure most of the people even going abroad have come back for this great festival and they have been with their families and enjoying their precious moment together.

I hope Goddess Durga will give me blessing and may be sooner I will be in those billionaire's list. Well I know I am asking but I love visiting Lindemann and Family page in wikipedia and viewing the billionaire list. So I am just praying hard to the Goddess Durga.

Happy Dashain to all of the Nepali people around the world!

Indrajatra 2007 Begins

There are lots of festivals happening around the year for the Hindu people in Nepal. It seems like everyday there is a festival in the name of some gods. I don’t know may be that I am from Newar group I feel as we have most of the feasts going on than any other tribes. But today, 24th of September, 2007, has a special importance if you are in Kathmandu. From a week before you will start Newari people going on for their music band practice. Lots of masked features, namely Lakhes, are out to brighten up the festival which is going to start today. It is called Indrajatra, where Indra means Lord of Heaven and jatra means festival, who is worshipped as God of Rain.

The fields have been planted with crops, the monsoon is in the ending process, and the season for harvesting is coming up. This is the beginning of the best season of the year, which lasts for two months. So this is the time when people worship the god of rain, Indra.

Today is considered as the first day of Indrajatra. The big wooden log which was brought from Sallaghari, Bhaktapur, is installed in front of the Kaal Bhairab at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square today. This symbolize that the festival, Indrajatra, is in the air. This wooden log is called Yashi in Newari language. The beginning and the end of the Indrajatra is symbolized by this wooden log. The installment symbolizes the beginning and after the festival it is put down and dragged into the Bagmati river, which symbolizes the end of the festival. The place at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square today is crowded with people who watch the installment of the log on that place. The log stands upright till the festival is in the air.

Gaura

I haven’t heard of this festival as of yet but it is in existence. It’s called Gaura. It is celebrated right after Biswokarma Puja. I read in one of the old magazines about it. I tried to find it out but was unable to find much detail. I only got out some parts of the magazines which I am trying to review today. Nepal really has various customs and tradition as it is a place where lots of groups and castes of people live in. So there are so many numerous amounts of festivals that it seems quite difficult to get all account of.

Speaking of Gaura festival, as written in the magazine, it is one of the most important Hindu festivals celebrated in the far western region of Nepal. It is observed by married women, and the ceremonies extend from the fifth to the eighth day of the bright lunar fortnight also called Astami in Nepali. During the festival, the women worship various deities and make ritual offerings to those deities. Devotees pay homage to Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati and seek their blessings.

Biswokarma Puja

In Hinduism, Biswokarma God is considered to be the god which possess all the craftsmanship and provides us the blessing of being a good and perfect craftsmanship. As you might have known that in Hinduism, there are 330,000,000 gods and everyone has a different values and respect and blessings to offer. So there is a day for each deity when they are worshipped and given special attention. The seventh day of the bright lunar fortnight is considered as the day for Biswokarma God. According to Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on 18th of September this year (2007).

Mostly people living in terai seems to celebrate this occasion more often than the people in hilly or Himalayan region. The people will just gather around to the statue of the Lord Biswokarma which they have made over the past and they would just sing and dance throughout the day. At end of the festival the statue is put down on the river which indicates the end of the festival. Mostly the Indians and terai people seem to make the statue of gods and then at the end of the festival they put down the statue in the river in most of the festivals.

Chatha (Ganesh Chaturthi)

Another festival celebrated right before Rishipanchami is Ganesh Charturthi (chaturthi means the fourth day of the bright lunar fortnight). This year it was celebrated on 15th of September, 2007. The Hindu people worship Lord Ganesh this day. The newar of Kathmandu valley called it Chatha (meaning same as chaturthi in nepali – fourth day of the bright lunar fortnight). It is celebrated hugely in our neighbor country India as well. Devotees pay homage to Lord Ganesh at various temples of Ganesh.

In Kathmandu, there is one special tradition that is carried out this day. The seed of the pear eaten couple of months ago is preserved for this day. The seed is called bakshyapati in Nepali. It is worshipped as Lord Ganesh, as it has appearance of Ganesh (Ganesh has head of an elephant). So after the worshipping. The seed is crushed and inside another edible seed is taken out and it is eaten after it is fried as the form of prashad (offerings eaten by the devotees in the name of god in form of blessings) from Lord Ganesh.

Rishi Panchami 2007

Two days after Teej (16th of September) is considered the last day of the fasting. The day is called Rishi Panchami where Rishi means holy person and Panchami meaning fifth which means fifth day of the new moon or month. The day after Teej, women only eat salt once a day in a meal. Then the next day is Rishi Panchami, where women once again go for fasting. Mainly the married women come to Lord Rishikeshwor Mahadev near Teku to worship another form of Lord Shiva. The place is just 10-15 walk from my house. A long queue is formed from the early morning. This day is very important for the ladies who went on fasting on Teej as today is the last and final day of their fasting and after this day they will be having a regular diet.

Personally, I don’t like women doing fasting, especially who have problems with their health. These days, lots of women do faint on the queue or even at their homes due to this extensive fasting. Television and radios and other Medias have now been making aware to the women and asking them not to participate in those sorts of fasting activities where their health would get hampered. If there is no health how can they pray for their husband’s life? I still wonder why would people do these sorts of crazy things and end up in the hospital bed every year. I mostly blame the husbands who give permission to their wives to do such kind of act. I hope in future women and men will take consideration to this matter and not take part in any such harmful rituals and keep their body and health as their priority.

Teej 2007

Teej is one of the most important festival for women in Nepal. It carries a lot of importance and devotion of woman who celebrate this festival. The main attraction of this festival are dancing, folk songs, and mostly the red color of women’s wedding saris. This festival is often considered as Hindu festival of womanhood.

There is a history behind this festival. This day recalls the heavenly occasion when Parvati, daughter of the Himalaya, won the hand of Lord Shiva after severe meditation and fasting. So the woman believe that if they fast on this day and pray for the desired husband, they will get it with the grace of Lord Shiva and the women who are married believe if they do the fasting it will make their husband live longer.

The day before the teej, mothers send gifts of food and saris to their daughters’ houses. Groups of women gather together to celebrate and feast. The day is called Darr Khane Din (the eating day). So this day the women eat lots of delicious foods and prepare for the fasting next day. At midnight, the women begin a fast in emulation of Parvati. Lots of women don’t even drink water and fast for their husband and future husbands. Lots of women go to Pashupatinath temple to pray to Lord Shiva. The married ones pray and ask for a happy and productive marriage and a long life of their husbands, and those yet to tie the nuptial knot ask for a good husband as goddess Parvati did. The fasting ends by having water and food from the husbands the next day of the married women and non-married have it by their own. This year Teej was celebrated and 14th of September.

End of Gunla 2007

The day after Gokarna Aunsi (father’s day) is marked as the end of the Gunla for the year. This year it was on 12th of September. I was so busy with my own world and work that this year, I couldn’t be in Swayambhu for the first time in my life. Throughout my years, I have loved going to Swayambhu, and Gunla is the main festival where lots of people go to Swayambhu throughout the month. It is such a shame that I couldn’t manage a single day to visit Swayambhu this year. I had made plans for more than three to four times but due to my tight schedule; I just couldn’t go there this year. I had never thought that I would miss going there this year.

On the last day, a huge crowd will be gathered in Swayambhu throughout the day. Lots of people visit and pay their respect to goddess Harati Ma on this day and the days throughout the months. Throughout the month, lots of people will go there with their own musical bands with full devotion to the deity. Since this is the last day, most of the people will visit the place and you see the Swayambhu hill covered with people from a long distance today. You will see devotees coming and going from the hills throughout the way of Swayambhu. The crowd is just overwhelming and something different to experience. Too bad, I miss it this year. Well I cannot do anything then regret it and hope and pray that I wont miss it next year.

Gokarna Aunsi 2007 – Father’s Day In Nepal

Gokarna Aunsi is the father’s day celebrated in Nepal. Gokarna is a place nearby the Valley and Aunsi means dark moon. This year it was celebrated on 11th of September. We have a special way of celebrating this day. Sons and daughters offer ritual food, sweetmeats, and other gifts to their fathers. The streets are a happy scene of married daughters with loads of goodies making their way to their parent’s houses. Another scenario is the shops selling lots of sweet products. The shopkeeper extends their shops and display varieties of sweet products that sons and daughters offer to their father today.

The father’s day is performed by offering the gifts, and then sons and daughters adore their fathers by bowing to touch their feet with their foreheads. The ceremony is also known as “looking uopon father’s face” in our own language. Those whose fathers are no more mark the day by visiting Gokarna and other sacred spots and worshipping to the deities. There they perform anniversary rituals (sharadhya) in honor of their departed fathers and offer alms of rice, pulses, and coints to the priests and beggars as well.

Krishnastami 2007

In Hinduism, there are lots of them. Hard to believe but truth is that it is considered that there are 33 koti devata (330.000,000 Gods). According to the religion, every god has their own importance and have contributed something to the human being in someway. Most of the gods have their special day when they are specially worshipped. Lord Krishna, the dark god who taught warrior Ajuna the value of Karma in the Bhagwad Gita, was born at midnight on the eighth day of the dark moon of August (28th August this year). So that day is Lord Krishna’s day hence also called Janmastami (where Janma means birth and Astami means 8th day of the month).

The Krishna’s birthday is celebrated with lots of love and devotion by the devotees. Flocks of devotes gather around the Krishna Mandir at Patan Durbar Square on the preceding day. Krishna Mandir of Patan is a monument and was build on 17th century. So the men and women from gather around and sit in the vigil waiting for the midnight hour. Euphoric prayers and incantations fill the air, and small oil lamps are lit as a mark of felicitation and devotion to the deity. The Krishna Mandir will be full of devotees throughout the day where we can find lots of flocks coming and going on paying their respects and homage to the deity. Throughout the Kathmandu Valley, images of Lord Krishna are shown. Some of the images are carried around the city in the procession accompanied by joyous crowds of followers and musical bands.

Mata-ya 2007 (Festival Of Lights)

I haven't been following the regular blog posting for the days of the festivals these days as I have been mostly indoors these days. I have one of my best friends, Smreeti Nakarmi, who went to that festivals and I had asked her to write her own personal views of her journey to this procession. So here are the details that she send me of her procession of one of the most popular festival in Patan area called Mata-ya. It was on 31 August 2007 this year. Below are the details written by her own.

Mata-ya is derived from combination of two different words “Mata” which means light and “Yatra” means journey. According to the Nepali calendar, Mata-ya is celebrated on the month of Bhadra two days after Janai Purnima. Mata-ya is renown by Srinveri or Nekoo Jatra. Many people from different areas come to Patan to watch this festival whereas many worshipers come here to worship to different chaitya (Buddhist shrine) and chowk (Buddhist courtyard) as well.

I also went to Mata-ya this year. I really got the chance to visit Patan areas and four big chatyas of the Patan city. At about 4 a.m. me n my friends came out and went to a place called Nagbahal from where the queue begins with a big crowd to start the procession. I met lots of friends over there who were going for this long journey. I was so much excited that day. I walked 16 hours on that day. Mata-ya procession is carried out for the peace for our ancestors. Mata-ya is celebrated once a year so it is our popular festival of Patan city. There is a very interesting story about the origin of this festival. It goes like, once Shakyamuni Gautama was in deep penance to attain nirvana. The Maras, jealous of unique penance, appeared disgusting themselves in different forms to Buddha. Some of them were in fierce-looking demon and some in Apsara (angel) forms and so on. They made him every possible attempt to reduce him but all in vain. Eventually Shakyamuni Gautama overcame the Maras and Buddha became the enlighten one. Then every soon Maras come to confess their sins to Lord Buddha and worship him with great honor. In other to make this great day, as many believe this festival come in to existence. Everyone (devotees) offer kapur, butter, lamps, money, rice, grains, incense, foods, as they wish. Me and my friends offer kapur for every chaitya. Small children come their with a nanglo (a big round-shaped instrument, mostly used to filter stones from the raw rice) and we give them what we have to offer. Visiting four main chaitya and reaching to same destiny where we started will end Mata-ya of the year.

Gai Jatra 2007

It was Gai Jatra, one of the other interesting festival, on August 29 2007. This festival is celebrated in the memories of the lost family member during the last year. The word Gai Jatra came from two words Gai (which means Cow) and Jatra (festival). It is also called Saparu in Newari language. The whole city streets are crowded with the parade of the families who have lost a member during the past year parade in a decorated cow around the city. Most of the people send a cow from their house and those who can't find a cow will send their kids dressed up as cows or ascetics and walk in procession along the festival route. Cow has a special place in the Hinduism. It is respected as a god and mostly a given the respect as to a mother. So this day, it is believed that the sacred animal helps departed souls to cross the cosmic ocean in their journey into the after-world.





Humor is another side of the festival. Comic dramas and street shows making fun of government officials are performed. People also roam the city dressed up like lunatics. Newspapers bring out special "mad" editions. From ancient ages people are allowed to demonstrate any critics this day, even when autocracy ruled Nepal.

In Kathmandu, the bereaved families proceed alone the festival route individually whereas in Patan, the participants gather at Durbar Square and then move out together. In Kirtipur, the Jatra starts from the night. Almost every won't sleep at night and on the Gai Jatra night a buffalo is sacrificed outside the Bagh Bhairav Temple. So I felt the Jatra as if it was a night-time Jatra.


The celebration in Bhaktapur is the most interesting one and I personally prefer going there if you want to see the true demonstration of Gai Jatra where there are tall bamboo poles, wrapped in cloth, and toped with horns fashioned of straw are carried around the city in memory of the dead. It seems like the whole city is taking part and all the city streets will be filled with the parade. It might be due to the narrowed streets there but all the city streets are found full on that day.

Naag Panchami 2007

I again missed the festival of Naag Panchami this year. I even missed to post it in the exact date in this blog of mine. It was on 18th of August this year. This festival also has a great value in Hindu culture and as with most of the festivals it also has a story behind it.

In Hinduism, the Naag (divine serpent) is glorified as the giver of rain. On the day of Naag Panchami, devotees paste pictures of the Naag over their doorways and pay homage. Devotees also throng Taudaha (meaning big pond) which is 6 kilometers to the south of Kathmandu. There they worship Karkotak Naag, the serpent-king. Karkotak moved to this dwelling after Lord Manjushree drained the Kathmandu Valley, which used to be a lake in ages past, by slicing a passage through the hills to make it inhabitable. Nagdaha lake is another distination for pilgrims where they offer worship to the serpent-gods.

So mostly this day you will find most of the houses with posters of Naag over their doorways and the market will be full of sellers of posters of Naag. Temples of Shiva (his ornaments is made of live snakes) can too be seen crowded with devotees. Other views would be people feeding milk to Naag brought by mostly Indian snake handler in their bags.

Gathan-Muga 2007

Amongst a hundreds of festivals in the valley, Gathan-muga festival too carries lots of details and its own importance. The Gathan-muga festival (known variously as Gathemuangal and Ghantakarna) actually represents a ritual detoxification of the city, when evil spirits are banished outside the urban limits. Lots of the street intersections on the day of the festival can be found with effigies erected of the Gathan-muga (as a symbol of demon). In the evening time, a man wearing war-paint type of color all over his body goes out begging for money in his area of the city throughout the different shops and houses. Lots of other children will follow him with some kind of rhyming song used to beg money in the name of god. At the end of the day, the effigy is taken down. The painted man is made to sit on the effigy and the neighborhood kids drag it away to the river near them, mostly Bishnumati River being closet to the valley. In Bhaktapur, the effigy is burnt in the middle of the street.

Being the native of the valley, mostly Newars celebrate this festival. Householders place pots of cooked rice at the crossroads as food for the demons. Another happening ritual is before locking up the house for the night, nails are hammered into the door lintel because it is believed that the spooks and the demons are supposed to be terrified of iron. People also put iron mixed rings into their fingers to keep the spooks and demons away this day.

This festival can be considered as the beginning of all the other ones, as after this festival lots of others will follow. Newars will have lots of festival going on after Gathan-muga festival. Within a week there will be at least 1-2 feasts going on after this festival and each having their own meaning and a different god to be remembered and worshipped. This year Gathan-muga was on the 11th of August.

Guru Purnima – Teacher’s Day

Teachers come second after gods in the Hindu hierarchy of respect. The full moon day of July is thus allotted for special treatment to one’s tutors. Studens pay homage to their teachers and receive blessings from them in return. At a place called Vyas on the Kathmandu-Pokhara highway, special worship is performed to Maharshi Vyas, the saint who created the great Hindu epic, Mahabharat. Devotees flock to the historic Vyas Gupha, the cave where he meditated and wrote down the scriptures.

For Buddhists, the occasion (known as Dilla Punhi) is sacred as the day when the Buddha-to-be entered the womb of queen Mayadevi, thereby setting in motion the religions cycle of Buddhism. Religious functions are held in all Buddhists monasteries and temples on commemorate the day.

Mostly in schools and college teachers are worshipped and the students put tika and offer homage to their teachers. Today really is the teacher’s day where they will be gods for a day.