Mother’s Day being observed across the nation

mothers-day-nepalKATHMANDU: People across the country are observing ‘Mata Tirtha Aunsi’ or Mother’s Day on Tuesday by offering different delicacies and gifts to their mothers.

According to Hindu tradition, the festival is celebrated on the new moon that falls in the month of Baisakh as per the lunar calendar.

On the occasion, sons and daughters bath early in the morning and offer gifts to their mothers. Continue reading

Jujubhai gets tongue pierced‚ again

tongue-piercing-bisket-jatraKATHMANDU: Jujubhai Shrestha of Bode, Bhaktapur, pierced his tongue for the sixth consecutive year as part of the nine-day Bisket Jatra celebrations today.

The 33-year-old has been piercing his tongue for the last six years to give continuity to the centuries-old tradition to mark the new Bikram Era. Before the ritual of tongue piercing with a spike dipped in mustard oil, a blacksmith offers special prayers to the deities.

With the spike lodged in his tongue, the Bhaktapur youth performed puja in all local temples before taking the spike out in front of the Pancho Ganesh temple. Continue reading

Seto Machindranath chariot rolls

Seto Macchindranath FestivalKATHMANDU, April 7:On a normal day, Durbar Marga, Jamal and the Ratnapark area rattle with the jarring sound of car horns. However, on Monday evening, the atmosphere was different and very festive.

Vehicles were replaced by hundreds of people arriving from across the Valley and the air vibrated with the traditional sounds of Newari music.

Continue reading

Sonam Lhosar being observed with gusto across the nation

Sonam LosharKATHMANDU:Sonam Lhosar, a greatest festival of the Tamang people is being observed across the nation by organising various programmes and exchanging greetings with each other on Friday.

The festival, which is the 2848th year of the Tamang community under the Tibetan lunar calender, is celebrated on the first day of new moon. The indigenous people will bid farewell to the Snake Year and welcome the Year of the Horse. Continue reading

Gurungs observing Tamu Lhosar today

Tamu LhosarKATHMANDU: The Gurung community is observing Tamu Lhosar, its new year, by exchanging greetings and organising cultural programmes tomorrow. The government has declared it a public holiday.

In the Kathmandu Valley, Gurung people have already started gathering in Tundikhel to celebrate the festival by taking part in cultural processions and feasting on traditional cuisines at the stalls kept there. Continue reading

Udhauli Festival Celebrated

Udhauli FestivalKATHMANDU, DEC 17 –
People from the indigenous Kirat community celebrated Udhauli festival  across the nation on Tuesday. The festival, which falls on the full moon day of the Nepali month of Mangsir, is celebrated by people of Kirat descent such as Rais, Limbus, Sunuwars and Yakhas. It is considered as a way of thanking nature for good harvest. Continue reading

Tihar festivities begin today

tiharKATHMANDU: Tihar, also called the festival of lights, will be celebrated from today with various rituals.The festival lasts for five days. The first day is known as Kag Tihar when crows are worshiped as the messengers of death. The second day is Kukur Tihar when dogs are worshiped as protectors of the house.The third day is famous as Gai Tihar and Laxmi Puja. On this day, cows are worshipped early in the morning. The cow is regarded as the mother and Laxmi, the goddess of wealth by Hindus. Continue Reading→

Indra Jatra begins

KumariKATHMANDU: The religious festival, Indra Jatra, which is mainly celebrated in Kathmandu Valley, has kicked off from Monday.This festival begins after a long wooden pole called “Indradhwojnthan” is erected in front of Hanuman Dhoka, Basantapur in order to propitiate the Lord Indra. The pole was erected after worshipping the pole with Indradhoja at 7:15 am at Hanuman Dhoka.It lasts for eight days with singing, mask dancing and rejoicing.Indra Jatra festival falls on the fourth day of the waxing moon in the month of Bhadra as per the lunar calendar. Continue Reading→

Bhoto Jatra today

KATHMANDU: The Rato Machhindranath Jatra will conclude today with the display of Bhoto — a jewel-studded vest — to throngs of devotees and revellers in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur.Bhoto will be displayed today as per the tradition, according to the Guthi Corporation. Rato Machhindranath is worshipped as the god of rain and harvest, and monthlong celebrations dedicated to him begin in the Kathmandu Valley just before monsoon and ends in Bhoto Jatra. Continue Reading→

Aakash Bhairav Jatra:Fascinating masked dance

KATHMANDU: Experiencing something rare and exquisite gives a feeling of satisfaction. But if you have never had such an experience till date, then do not miss the Halchowk Aakash Bhairav Jatra that is held for a month once every 12 years. And if you are wondering when will that rare opportunity come, then the year 2070 BS is that particular year. After 12 long years, this religious masked dance festival started from Halchowk of Swoyambhu on April 14, the first day of Nepali New Year. Continue Reading