17 Jul 2023 4 min to read
Nepal is renowned for its cultural wealth and abundant natural resources. It boasts over 50 festivals that are celebrated by diverse ethnic groups. Each festival holds its significance and adds to the country’s unique tapestry of traditions. Let’s delve into 5 diverse Nepali Hindu festivals that are widely celebrated across various regions of Nepal. These festivals showcase the country’s rich heritage. Also, they are cherished in their exceptional ways.
Naag/Nag Panchami (July/August)
Naag/Nag Panchami is a traditional festival in Nepal where people worship snakes. It is believed that long ago, snakes lived in a large lake in the Kathmandu Valley. When people started to settle and remove the lake, the snakes became angry. To protect themselves from the snakes’ wrath, people started worshipping them, a practice that continues today.
It is celebrated on Shrawan Shukla Panchami. On Naag Panchami, people stick pictures of snakes above their front doors using cow dung and offer rice paste, cow’s milk, cotton garlands, red tika (vermillion), and other sacred items. They also place bowls of milk near snake holes. This festival is celebrated to ward off evil spirits and seek blessings for good health.
Teej (August/September)
Teej is a Hindu festival celebrated by women in Nepal for the longevity of their husbands and the purification of oneself. It lasts for three days and is also called Haritalika Teej. It starts on Bhadra Shukla Dwitiya and ends in Bhadra Shukla Chaturthi (Ganesh Chaturthi). Married and unmarried women fast on the main day, while the first day involves feasting, singing, and dancing. On the third day, after completing rituals and prayers, women conclude their fast. Teej is a joyous celebration where women come together to pray and seek blessings for their relationships and personal well-being. The next day they also celebrate Rishi Panchami.
Rishi Panchami (August/September)
Rishi Panchami is a traditional Hindu festival observed by women who worship the seven sages known as Sapta Rishi. These sages include Kashyapa, Atri, Vishwamitra, Bhardwaj, Gautama Maharishi, Jamadagni, and Vasistha. It is annually observed on Bhadra Shukla Panchami. Women partake in a ritual bath in holy rivers, ponds, and water bodies. In addition to the Sapta Rishi, they also worship Arundathi, Lord Ganesh, and the Navagraha, which are the nine planetary deities. This festival holds great importance for women as they believe it helps cleanse the sins committed during menstruation. It is a significant and joyous occasion for women to celebrate and seek spiritual purification.
Vivaha Panchami (November/December)
Vivaha Panchami is a grand celebration in Janakpurdham, Nepal, marking the divine wedding of Lord Ram and Mata Sita. It attracts numerous devotees from Nepal and India. The temples dedicated to Lord Ram and Mata Sita are beautifully adorned, and the wedding ceremony, known as Vivaha Utsav, is observed with great joy. It is celebrated on Poush Shukla Panchami. Lord Ram, symbolized by the Shaligram Shila, and Mata Sita, represented by the Tulsi plant, are ceremoniously wedded. Devotees offer garlands, tikas, white flowers, and special offerings like sabudana (tapioca pearls) and kesar (saffron). The blessed offerings are distributed as Prasad to the devotees. The city illuminates vibrant lights, creating a festive ambiance during Vivaha Panchami.
Bala Chaturdashi (November/December)
Bala Chaturdashi is a festival where people sow seeds in honor of their deceased loved ones to ensure their well-being in the afterlife. It falls on the tithi of Mangsir Krishna Chaturdashi. The festival involves performing rituals, sowing seeds, and circling the Shiva idols and other temples around the Pashupatinath temple. As part of the festivities, people take a sacred bath in the Bagmati river, recite mantras, light oil lamps called diyos, and sow satbij, a mixture of seven holy seeds. Bala Chaturdashi is a meaningful occasion to remember and honor the departed while seeking blessings for their spiritual journey.
