Guni Punhi and Offering to Frogs

“Offering to frog” photo by : Junu Shrestha

Today ( 03 August 2020 ) we are enjoying “ kwati” at our house, with our family. “Kwati” is one of the traditional Newari soups which is prepared by indigenous Newari people living in the valley on the occasion of Guni Punhi festival.  The word kwati is derived from two words where “kwa” means hot and “ti” means soup, so it’s the hot soup, with a mixture of 9 types of sprouted Beans Black Pea, Green pea, Chickpea, Soya bean, Filed pea, Garden pea, Cowpea, Rice bean.

After the traditional method of rice plantation and a lot of physical work in the farming season, the farmers require proper nutrition to regain their body energy. Kwati, therefore, acts as the supplier of nutrition to the tired farmers. kwati was particularly consumed among Newari communities but with time, it also has been popular among other ethnic communities here in Nepal.

Continue reading

Upcoming festivals in Nepal, with dates.


Rice Plantation Day – 29th June 2016
A Festival for Rice planting – is the day of a climax of rice planting. Ropain Festival, also known as Asar 15, is celebrated mostly by farmers from all regions of Nepal – to mark the day of planting new seedlings of rice crop of the year.
Continue reading

Maghe Sankranti

Locals prepare molasses for Maghe Sankranti.  (Xinhua/Sunil Sharma)

Locals prepare molasses for Maghe Sankranti. (Xinhua/Sunil Sharma)

Maghe Sankranti is the first day of the holy month Magh, January 15th as Gregorian calendar. Sankranti is a Sanskrit word, which in translation defines the transmigration of one Rashi (Zodiac Sign) to another. According to the Hindu Lunar calendar, the Sun travels to Makar Rashi (Capricorn) on this day. Devotees believe at the end of this day, the heart-wrenching winter shall come to end and warm weather will breeze prosperity and good health. Continue reading

Vivaha Panchami

Ram Janaki Temple

Janaki Temple in Janakpurdham of Dhanusa District in central Nepal was built in 1911 and it is one of Nepal’s unique monuments. This stems not only from the fact that it is the birthplace of Goddess Sita, wife of Lord Ram, one of the most heroic gods in the Hindu pantheon, but also because of its interesting architecture. Continue reading

Mha Puja, The Worship of Self

Tihar Festival

Special Mandap used for self worship during Mha Puja. Image: flickr/Ritesh Man Tamrakar

While Dashain and Tihar are rejoiced in by all Hindus, Mha Puja is an event that only Newars celebrate. It is today celebrated all over the world, thanks to globalization, or rather, lots and lots of emigration to foreign lands by hordes of optimistic Nepalis, among whom are invariably, quite a few from the Newar community. Mha Puja (this year 24th October 2014) also marks the beginning of the Newari New Year. Legend has it that, 1134 years ago, a trader and a philanthropist, Sankadhar Sakhwa, declared his countrymen to be debt-free by paying off all their debts himself. The Newars decided to mark a new beginning by commemorating a new era. Thus was born the Nepal Sambat (Nepal Era) of which, NS 1134 will come to an end this year, a day after Bhai Tika, the fourth day of Tihar, the second biggest festival of Nepal.

Continue reading

From Ghatasthapna to Kojargrat Purnima, the Dashain Festival

Dashain Tika & Jamara

Dashain Tika & Jamara. Image: Prasit Humagain

In the beginning of October (25th Sept to 3rd Oct 2014), you will most probably see a goat or two tethered in many a home’s yard. They are meant for sacrifice on Maha Asthami, the eighth day of the greatest festival of Hindus in Nepal, that is, Dashain. Continue reading

Indra Jatra, a Spectacular Festival of Nepal

Living Goddess Kumari during the festival. Image: Bhuwan Maharjan.

Living Goddess Kumari during the festival. Image: Bhuwan Maharjan.

If you are in Kathmandu around the second week of September(8th September 2014, this year), you’ll be able to participate in a pretty lavish Nepali festival, Indra Jatra, that goes on and on for eight days. Continue reading

Shree Krishna Janmasthami

Krishna Astami.Still003aAn ancient temple in Patan Durbar Square in Patan City becomes the center of activities during a particular day, the Shree Krishna Janmasthami, in August-September every year(this year 17th August 2014), to celebrate the birth anniversary of one of the most popular and romantic gods in the Hindu pantheon, Lord Krishn. Continue reading