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Festivals of Nepal
Nepal is a land of Festivals. For the Nepalese, festivals are not
merely the annual spectacles, but also are a living part of their
rich cultural heritage. Festivals effectively bind together the
Nepalese people of diverse cultural backgrounds and beliefs into one
nation. Most Nepalese festivals are related to different Hindu and
Buddhist gods and goddesses and they are celebrated on such days
consecrated for them by religion and tradition.
Others
are observed in honor of personal relatives such as festivals of
Matatirtha and Gaijatra. Yet other are held to herald the different
seasons or to mark the beginning or end of agricultural cycle. Some
festivals are of national significance such as Dashain or Tihar;
some are confined to the Katmandu Valley, while still others are
celebrated only within one or two villages or cities.
Nepal has more festivals than the number of days in a year. A festival is always a meaningful and memorable event in the life of Nepalese people. Every festival has some purpose to serve. From bringing in the rain to honoring the dead or averting calamities, every festival has something spiritual about it. Festival is a way of life in Nepal. With the number of festivals that Nepal has, it is one of the best ways to understand and appreciate the Nepalese ways of life.