Festival

A wedding is a ceremony where two souls are united in marriage. It varies in accordance with traditions, customs, cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes. Two people from different countries get married is called a transnational wedding. Transnational Wedding laws vary between countries. Although it’s legal and the law of Nepal allow transnational wedding. Nepalese citizens can get married to foreign citizens. Nepalese law has allowed getting married between them and they should follow certain procedures. In the case of Nepalese citizen, he/she should submit his/her identity as an unmarried, likewise for foreigners need the unmarried and No-Objection letter. The foreigner citizen has the right to marry with Nepalese citizen from any district office of Nepal. The age bar for the transnational wedding should be a minimum of 20 years for both. Evidence of Nationality like a copy of a passport, photographs of the applicant also needed. In the transnational marriage, the applicants should wait 16 days to get married certificate release from Legal Authority.

Most wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of marriage vows by the bride and groom. They exchange rings as a symbol that they got engaged with each other. Bride and groom Special wedding garments are often worn, and the ceremony is followed by a wedding reception. These couples were met on a volunteering program. Best wishes on this wonderful journey to them.

Volunteer for Nepal provides an opportunity to learn Nepalese language and culture before you start work. Volunteers will learn about culture, history, languages, food, and places of Nepal.

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Today is full moon day, and as we know the day of Buddha’s birthday. The full moon is the lunar phase when the Moon appears fully illuminated from Earth’s perspective. This occurs when Earth is located between the Sun and the Moon. Buddhists in Nepal celebrate Buddha Jayanti on the full moon day. In Nepal, the birthday of Buddha is of special significance to many because of Nepal is the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam Buddha. According to legend, Buddha was born at a pond in the Lumbini in Nepal’s Rupandehi district. We can still see the site until today, and it is enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On the other, today is a very significant day for Kirati people. Sakela is the main festival in Kirat community, which is celebrated twice a year and it is distinguished by two names Ubhauli and Udhauli. Ubhauli festival falls on the full moon day of Baisakh of today. It marks the beginning of the farming season and the arrival of summer. The main characteristic of this festival is a ritual dance call Sakela dance performed by large groups of Kiratese wearing their traditional attire. People of all ages dance together in a large circle. In each circle of the dance, there are male and female leaders known as Silimangpa and Silimangma respectively. The leaders choreograph the dance is called ‘Sili’ and others should follow them. The Sili reflect itself on the different aspects of human life and their relationship with nature.  

Nepal is not only the land of mountains, but it is also known as a diverse land of festivals. Even it is also known as unity in diversity. There are many festivals celebrated in a year. Among many festivals, Dashain is one of the greatest, longest and auspicious festival in Nepal. It falls in September and October month. It starts on the Shukla Paksha (bright lunar fortnight) of the month of Ashwin and ending on Purnima. Among the fifteen days on which it is celebrated, the most important days are the first, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and fifteenth. It is the most anticipated festival among the people in Nepal, and ethnic Hindu people from all over the world. All the people from the world and different parts of the country back home to celebrate together with family members.

Ghatasthapana
The beginning day of the festival is Ghatasthapana. On this day freshwater is filled on the leaf plate with maize and barley seeds to sprout. Twice a day morning and evening are worshiped and sprinkled freshwater to sprout nicely. These rituals continue until the seventh day. The process of worshiping and sprouting will be varied according to people and the community. The seeding sprout is called Jamara, grow to almost five inches long till seventh days.

Saptami
Phulpati is a significant seventh day of Dashain. On the day of Saptammi, the regular prayers of Bhagwati should be brought Belpati like other days. A lot of Phulpati (flowers and fruits) brought in the main door of the house puja Ghar (shrine). In the context of Nepal on this day, the Phulpati is brought from the Gorkha Durbar to the Puja house of Hanumanadoka in Kathmandu by the time the occasion ends in Tundikhel, where a parade is held. The royal family was overthrown in 2008 and two-century tradition is changed so far. Phulpati offering goes to the residence of the president. The President has taken over the royal’s social and religious roles.

Maha Ashtami
Maha Ashtami is called on the day of the eighth day. The day of this day-night is Kal Ratri. The goddess of this day is known as Kali. This is the most ferocious day of Goddess Durga’s demonstration. The Kali is appeased through the sacrifice of buffaloes, goats, hens, and ducks in temples throughout the country.

Nawami
The ninth day is called Nawami and the end of the day of Kalratri. People worship their properties like machinery, vehicle, and equipment. It is believed that your worship of vehicles on this day will avoid the accident throughout the year.

Dashami
The tenth day is Bijaya Dashami Tika of the festival. A mixture of rice, yogurt, and vermilion is prepared and it becomes Red is known as Tika. Though some people prepare white Tika only mixture of rice and yogurt. Elders give Tika and Jamara to younger relatives with the blessing of prosperity on their forehead in the upcoming years. Senior member gives Tika and Jamara to other family members at home with Dakshina (money).

Kojagrat Purnima
The full moon day of the festival is called ‘Kojagrat’ Purnima. The last day of the festival is Kojagrat Purnima. People on this day awake throughout the night. Goddess Laxmi is worshiped. It’s believed on this day, people who are awake all night, Goddess Laxmi bless with wealth and prosperity. Also, people enjoy playing cards on this night.

One of the revered festivals is Indra Jatra in the Kathmandu valley. It falls in September, on the Bhadra Shukla Chaturdansi of Nepali month. It is an eight-day long festival. Indra Jatra is specially celebrated in three districts of Kathmandu valley, Dhulikhel and Dolakha. According to history, the festival was begun to be celebrated in memory of discovering Kathmandu valley in the 10th century by King Gunakamadeva. Later the Malla dynasty, Jaya Prakash Malla started to coincide with Kumari Jatra in the 18th Century. Indra Jatra is celebrated in the center of Kathmandu, around Durbar Square. Indra Jatra is replicated by masked dances of deities and demons, it displays of sacred images and tableaus in honor of the deity Indra, the king of heaven. Kumari Jatra is the chariot procession of the living goddess Kumari. Family members deceased in the past year are also remembered.

This is the most exciting and revered festival in the Newari community of the Kathmandu Valley.  Masks dancers known as Lakhay, they dance at the street with accompanying drummers. According to the Hindu myth, Indra is a god of rain and worshiping for a good harvest. On the day of the festival, the wooden pole is brought from Nala jungle. The jungle is near to Kavre and erected at Hanumandhoka a historic place of Kathmandu. The pole is called Lingo. Lord Bhairav is worshiped on the bottom of the pole. During the festival, chariot procession to Kumari a living goddess and among other deities, cultural song and dance are performed by tableaus.

President of the country among other leaders and dignitaries observe the chariot processions in Basantapur Durbar Square.