Maghe Sankranti (15th January) Maghe Sankranti means the first day of the holy month of Magh (mid of January). This ceremonial day marks the moving of the winter Sun towards the northern hemisphere indicating better warm days on the way. The most important rituals to be performed by devotees on this day is to take an early morning bath in a holy river and then go to the temples to make special prayers. Thousands on this day flock to the important river points like Shankhamole in Aryaghat, in Kathmandu valley and Devaghat. Dolalghat, Barah Chhetra, Ridi and Damouli beyond.

Losar (February) Losar for Sherpas and people of Tibetan origins is like Christmas for Christian. The week long festival of Losar is celebrate every year sometime in February. The main focus of this festival centers around the celebration of the Tibetan new year. Sherpas, Tamang and Tibetan in Nepal organize various ceremonies and community together to mark this great occasion. A visit to Buddha - a little Tibetan in Nepal could reward with many fascinating sight of celebration on this day.

National Democracy Day (14th February) National Democracy Day in Nepal is celebrated to commemorate a historic day when democracy was brought by the people's revolution in 1951 putting an end to the autocratic family rule of the Ranas lasting 104 years. Various programs and parades are organized to mark this great occasion. Due respect is paid to the national heroes - who sacrificed their lives to bring democracy in the country. The colorful illumination in the evening is another part of celebration on this day.

Shree Panchami (22nd February) Shree Panchami is a day sacred to Saraswoti, the goddess of learning and fine arts. Traditionally this day heralds the advent of spring. The official celebration of this occasion begins with the ceremonial singing of the classical spring song locally known as "Vasanta Panchami" at Hanuman Dhoka royal palace in Kathmandu. Some of the important Saraswoti in Patan, Swoyambhu Manjushree and Neel Saraswoti in Kathmandu and Lhasapa Saraswoti in Bhaktapur. Many students fast on this day - and eat only one meal of pure vegetarian dishes to prove their devotion.

Shiva Ratri (14th February) Shiva Ratri literally means the holy night of Shiva, the presiding diety of Hindu pantheon. The focal point of Shiva Ratri celebration is the famed Pashupati Nath temple situated on the bank of the river Bagmati about 6 km east of down town Kathmandu.This holy temple attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims from Nepal as well as India, during this festival. Countless pilgrims including long haired mendicants and ash covered ascetics some of them quite naked pour visit the temple of Pashupati Nath to pay their respect.

Falgu (1st March) The beginning of this festival is marked with the installation of a big three tired canopy-like pole locally knows as Cheer pole at Basantapur Square in Kathmandu. This traditional ritual is performed on the 8th day of bright fortnight of Fagu (8th day waxing moon of March). However the main highlight of this spring festival is the color games many youths love to play. This continues for one full week. The fever of this game goes very high on the full moon day which is the last day of celebration.

Ghote Jatra (17th March) Ghote Jatra, meaning the horse racing festival always comes into right next day from Pishach Chaturdashi. traditionally the observance of this festival commemorates the public victory over the demon called Tudikhel Lakkey who for most primitive his of terror was punished with death by the angry populace. It is said that when the demon was declared dead the people with great sense of relief and triumph trampled on this giant's chest repeatedly and some even raced their horses over it many times. To marked the occasion the army organized lots of sports activities on this day. The venue for this show is Kathmandu Tundikhel.

Ramnawami (25th March) Ramnawami a big day-for the Nepalese Hindu is celebrated in honor of the great Hindu King Ram on the 9th day of bright fortnight of Chaitra (March). But the min deity to be worshiped on this occasion is the all powerful mother goddess Durga, the wife of Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the Hindu pantheon because as and the holy Hindu scripture say Ram was a great devotee of Durga her blessings enable Ram to kill his arch enemy, Rawan, the most dreaded demon king of this day. This day is symbolically commemorated as the victory of virtue over vice.

Pishach Caturdhashi (April) Pishach in Nepal means evil sprits and Chaturdashi means the 14th day of dark fortnight of the moonless night. As many believe this is the time when evil sprits become very active and give themselves to the destructive activities. As the dead of this particular night hordes of evil sprits (Pishachs) along with the witches and wandering ghosts roam the country causing diseases and disasters to the innocent souls. This is the reason why the Nepalese people firstly prefer to worship the guuardain deities of their respective communities and pray for their protection before they go ahead fof the celebration of this festival. Nears of Kathmandu valley celebrate this festival treating themselves with the lavish feast specially prepared for this occasion.

Nawa Varsa (14th April) Nawa Varsa or the Nepalese New Year is celebrated every year with great enthusiasm. This great day according to the officially recognized Vikram Era falls on the first day of the first month the Nepalese year (Baishak) which corresponds to mid April around. As elsewhere, the New Year is observed by exchange of greetings singing and dancing. For the people in Bhaktapur however it I more that this. They celebrate this occasion for one fulweek. Various Hindu gods and goddesses are worshipped with animal sacrifices. Friends are invited. Thus they lazy themselves in a very relaxing festival mood.

Matri Auncy (16th April) Matri Auncy is a mother's day in Nepal. The Nepalese on this day treat their mother with all the best delicacies and gift they can afford and the mothers in return bless with all the best wishes. But those whose mother have departed they visit Matatirtha about 8 km southwest of Katmandu where they prey for the peace of their departed mothers. A visit to Matatirtha this day is a real worth.

Rato Machhendra Rath Jatra (17th April) This festival observed every year in honor of Lord Machhindranath very popular rain god of Nepal. The festival begins sometime in mid-April at Patan, Pulchok andcontinues for a month. It is believe the festival was introduced by King Narendra Deva way back in 9th century A.D.cicra The main highlight of the festival is the ceremonial pulling of a huge four wheel festival chariot of Rato Macchindra around the city of Patan. The procession is mean to symbolized the annul visit of the Lord to the earth to see how his devotees are doing for their livelihood. There are all together four-destination points where the chariot halts for the overnight stay as each point. The last day celebration of this festival is marked with the ceremonial display of his jewel studded legendary vest at Jawalakheel. Usually the event is graced by no less a personality than the King himself

Buddha Jayanti (30th April) The full moon day of Baishakh (April-May) is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Buddha the apostle peace. The unique thing about the life history of Buddha is that he was burn on full moon day, got enlightened on full moon day and expire on full moon day. This great day is known as triple blessed day in the Buddhist world. Lord Buddha, the light of love and peace for all on the earth was born at Lumbini in Nepal about 260-km southwest of Kathmandu. This holy site attracts thousands of pilgrims on this day. Celebration of this occasion in Kathmandu valley is quite unique. Devotees in Patan carrying the life size statue of Buddha accompanied by various musical bands go around the city. The devotees at Baudha in Kathmandu with the gorgeous golden statue of Baudha mounted on the elephant back make a very impressive street show. The butter lamps lit up in thousands in and around the beautifully decorated Swayambhu Nath and Baudha Nath stupas is quite something to see. Apart this many monasteries near Baudha also display big thangkas and rare curio treasures on this day to mark this occasion.

Seto Machhindra Rath Jatra (April - May) This festival is held every year in honor of Seto Machhindra. The Buddhist god compassion and love. The main highlight of this festival is the man-drawn festival chariot of Seto (White) Machhindra which starts from Tindhara Pathsala in Kathmandu - attaching thousands of onlookers. The closing of this four day long festival is marked with the performance of various traditional rites and ceremonies when the chariot arrives at Lagan Tole - the last destination point after having completed its ritual round in the city. Kathmanduites celebrate this occasion with a lavish feast with their friends and family members around.

Sithi (May) Sithi is a very old festival associated with Kumara, the six headed god of extra sensary perception and power. The Nepalese people observed this occasion by offering various ritual food in which the traditional pancake called `O` feature predominantly. A very old custom requires the Nepalese to clean up their community pond and wells on this day speak a lot about the significant environment and water concern of ancient people.

Guru Purnima (June - July) Guru Purnima is a teacher's day in Nepal. A very old Hindu tradition worship Lord Shiva on this day as the greatest Guru. Devout Hindu know him by his symbolic name Dakhin Moorti. Many on this day pay a courtesy visit to their respective gurus and exchange greetings to mark this occasion.

Ghantakarna (July) This festival is observed every year sometime early August to - rate the death of a most dreaded legendary demon called `Ghantakarna`. Legend says once this demon terrorized the entire country by devouring children and destroying many family houses - until the local populace with the help of little frog empowered by Vishnu, the Hindu god of protection put him to death. To remain people of this event the children on this day display an effigy of Ghantakarna at various crossroads and collect tolls from passerby which they spent to put up a big make belief funeral show of the demon. In the evening enthusiastic young boys drag the effigy of the demon down the river and thrown it away. They celebrate this occasion with a big feast in the family.

Gunla (July - August) Gunla is the holy Buddhist month which falls sometime in the middle of monsoon (August). The central venue for the entire Gunla activities is Swayambhu Stupa the most important place of Buddhist worship where devotees early in the morning accompanied by various traditional music hands throng to pay tribute to Lord Buddha for one full month. Last day of this holy month I celebrate with a big community prayer and feast.

Nagpanchami (July - August) Nagpanchami is a snakes` day in Nepal. The Nepalese people on this day paste the poster of a snake or naga in a semihuman from above the main entrance of their houses and worship it with the cowmilk sweets and flowers. Snakes are generally regarded as water spirits in Nepal. Performance of this ritual is believed to protect the worshippers from the fear of flood and other water related troubles for the whole year to come and bring peace and prosperity home. Many devotees on this day go to Taudaha, the legendary, lake home of naga king Karkotaka about 6 km south of central Kathmandu to pay tribute to him. This day falls exactly on 5th day of bright fortnight of Bhadra (early August).

Janai Poornima (26th August) This is a big day for the entire Hindu community specially for the Brahmins (the priestly class). Janai means a three stringed sacred thread neclace, the symbol of Hindu trinity worn by Brahmins and cheetries and poornima means the full moon day. This is also the day for the Nepalese wear Raksya Bandhan (a safety thread bon). Many prefer their Brahmin priests to put it around their wrists with the chanting of mantra (holy hymns). The focal point of this festivity I the Kumbheswar temple in Patan. Quite a large number of devotees also go to Gosau Kunda a holy site about two days strenuous walk to the extreme northwest of Kathmandu.

Gaijatra (27th August) Gaijatra generally means the festival of cows. The most interesting part of this week long festival is the procession of the typically costumed people representing the holy cows on the day to heaven. Cows in Hindu religion are regarded as the guides for the departed souls to heaven. So in Nepal, the bereaved families worship the cow on this day with the earnest hope that hey would definitely lead their departed souls to heaven. Another highlight of this festival is the free show of the street comedy. Clowns and comedians perform various humor shows in the street to entertain the audience. While doing so they take plenty of liberty to mimic and lampoon various social and political ills prevent in the society.

Mataya (August) Mataya is the Buddhist festival of lights which is held sometime in late August every year. Its antiquity goes way back to the 11th century A.D. The most interesting part of this festival is the procession of the devotee holding burning candle that goes around almost all the important Buddhist Shrines and sites scattered in the city of Patan.

Panchadan (August) Panchadan is the Buddhist festival of charity. The main features of this festival is the giving away of alms firstly to the Buddhist monks and then to beggars. As a very old custom goes it Buddhist rich and poor both on this day in Patan visit many important Buddhist monasteries as well as the Buddhist family houses to collect alms where they are traditionally treated a the saints of Buddhist mission. The main venues for this traditional charity show in Patan are Kwabahal the famed golden temple to Buddha, Nagbahal, Ubhal and Bhinchhenbahal and of course guito Bahee known for their devotion to the traditional customs and manners.

Gokarna Auncy (August) Gokarna Auncy is a father's day. It falls on the moonless day of Bhadra ( August ). Those with their fathers still alive treat their fathers on this day with as many dishes and gifts as they can afford and their fathers in return bless them with all the best of everything they can wish for. But those whose fathers are dead visit Gokarna, a holy site to pay tribute to Lord Shiva pray for eternal peace of their departed fathers. Gokarna, only 6 km northeast of central Kathmandu attracts thousands of fatherless pilgrims on this day-where they give away various foods and gifts to the Brahmins in the name of their deceased fathers.

Krishnastami (2nd September) Krishnastami - the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, the great epic hero of Mahabharat is a very important holiday for the entire Hindu community. The focal point of this great day is the famed Krishna temple of Patan Durbar Square where thousands of devotees-more woman in their finest ceremonial red sari beeline to pay tribute to Lord Krishna on this day. Another attraction of this festival is the fasting woman's group singing and dancing in and around the Patan Krishna temple. Quite a number of them the night offering ceremonials lamps.

Teej (12th September) Teej is the three-day long festival specially meant for woman to observe. It falls sometime in mid September. The first day celebration of Teej begins with Darkhaney-which for woman generally means to eat one's choice food and prepare themselves for the tough fasting to Lord Shiva the following day. Young woman in sizeable groups on this day (2nd day) customed in their best ceremonial red sari go singing and dancing all the way to Pashupati Nath temple-the focal point of Teej celebration about 6 km east of Kathmandu. Fasting woman on this day if they are married pray to Shiva the happy conjugal life-and if unmarried pray for the best husbands they can wish for. They break this fast on the third day with the purification bath in the holy river.

Chatha (September) Chatha means the fourth day moon of August-considered as a day sacred to Ganesha, the elephant headed god of goodluck. But it is very bad day for the moon. A legend says this is the day the moon lost his full light which he used to enjoy every day before Ganesh cursed him. The Nepalese celebrate this day offering various seasonal fruits and flowers to all powerful Ganesh and pray for protection from unnecessary evils.

Indra Jatra (24th September) The word Indra means the Hindu rain god and jatra means the festival. This week long festival officially begins with the raising of a huge 50 feet tall ceremonial pole at Human Dhoka Durbar Square in Kathmandu. One of the main highlights of this festival is a week long traditional display of age old images of Akash Bhairab (only their head portions though) - representing tantric forms of Indra - at important city points of Kathmandu valley. Another attraction of this festival is the ceremonial pulling of the festival chariot of Kumari the living goddess followed by the chariots of Ganesh and Bhairab two other living gods. Our king always attends this ceremony. To mark this occasion traditional dancers representing various divine spirits perform their legendary serials at Basantapur Square on this day.

Dashain (10th to 24th October) Dashain is the greatest and most widely celebrated national festival of Nepal. The first day of Dashain begins with Ghatasthapana which means the installation of a ceremonial holy water har. It usually falls on the first day of bright fortnight af Aswin (early October). The celebration counties for two full weeks. However the main celebration will be only for three days 8th, 9th and 10th day. The main deity to be worshipped during Dashain is goddess Durga, the Devine mother. On the 8th day several esoteric worship take place in the private family prayer rooms. On the 9th day thousands of devotees pour into important Hindu Durga templs to worship. On the 10th day at night, Thamel in Kathmandu and Mangal Bazzar in Patan some word wielding men designated as the soldiers of goddess Durga come out in the street with big band of traditional music. The red tika with bright yellow seedlings called Jamara is a big ceremonial mark on this day which symbolized the victory over vice.

Tihar (5th to 10th November) Tihar or Deepawali means the festival of lights. It is a five day long festival celebrated every year in bright blue autumn. This festival begins with the worship of a caw, the messenger of Yamaraj, the 2nd day is the dog's day. The third day is a special day to worship Laxmi, the goddess of wealth. The fourth day in to worship one's own soul, the symbolic of self realization. The fifth day I the brother` day. Sisters worship their brothers on this day with a wide variety of fancy sweets, fresh fruits and flowers and treat with all the best dishes in return brothers exchange the good will and affection of their sisters with nice gifts in cash kinds. The entire city is illuminated with lights during the festival.

Chhat (14th November) Chhath is a very important day foe the Nepalese worshippers of the Sun god. This festival is observed more enthusiastically in the Tarai region of Nepal. The central historical town of Janakpur Dham about 260 km southeast of Kathmandu. Rivers and ponds of this town are crowded with the bathers on this day. This fasting is considered incomplete without a purification dip. Thousands of fasting devotees pour into holy river sides on this day long before it gets dark, make ceremonial lamps and sit up all night singing prayer songs of the Sun god. Breaking of this fasting is marked with the sighting of the first day of the Sun next morning. The Sun god on this day is worshipped with tremendous variety of seasonal fruits, flowers and multicolored threads, symbolic of their readyness to give up anything they possess at the service of the gad.

Mani Rindu (November) This is one of the most fascinating high Himalayan Buddhist festivals observed every year some time in November. The focal point of Mani Rindu celebration is in Thyangboche, the world's highest monastery located at 13,000 ft above sea level in Solukhumbu district of Nepal. The main highlight of this festival is the performance of various masked dances reflecting religious significance. Before the performance begins Lama - Gurus with the monks chant special prayers invoking the deities they desire to preside the ceremony.

Bala Chaturdashi (December) The focal point of this day is Pashupati Nath temple about 6 km east of Kathmandu where pilgrims in thousands pour into pay homage to Lord Shiva. Then as the age old custom would have it the pilgrims proceed for the traditional temple round scattering the seeds of seven different food grains all along the way leading to hundreds of Hindu shrines and sculptures located in the Pashupati area. This religious act is believe to secure a better place in heaven for their depart relations.

HM King's birthday (29th December) The Nepalese people regards the crown as a symbol of national unity. People celebrate this day with great gusto and ferrous by organizing various programs. The main highlight of this day is the colorful felicitation procession consisting of the people from various walks of life from Kathmandu Tudikheel to the Narayahity Royal Palace to express their felicitations to His Majesty the King.

Bibaha Panchami (December) This great day is celebrate to commemorates the weeding ceremony of the Lord Ram with Nepalese princess Sita which is believed to have taken place long time ago in the city of Janakpur. Thousands of pilgrims including many from India Pour into Janakpur town this day to watch the festival parade designed to reenact many important legendary events associated with the life history of Ram and Sita. The town of Janakpur wears a festive mood on this great day.