GHAI JATRA (FESTIVAL)

                                               CELEBRATING GHAI JATRA

Gai Jatra is a festival celebrated by the Newar community every year since the malla period. We see newars celebrating this festival in different cities where there is strong pesence of newars. Now a days we see other community also particiapting in this festival. It is one of the most popular festivals of Nepal. This festival comes just a day after Janai Purnima and this year it is held on 29^th of the Sarwan (aug 14). The festival commemorates the death of people during the span of a year. Gai Jatra is a healthy festival which enables the people to accept the reality of death and to prepare oneself for the life after death. The festival of cows is one of the most popular festivals of Nepal.

Every family who lost their member goes to participate in this festival. They bring children or some time adult also with resemblance of Radha Krishna or give those funny looks or resemblance of cow, yogi and other Hindu idol. Some family brings the real cow too.

In Kathmandu the festival is held around Basantapur, in Bhaktpaur around the hole Bhaktapur city and in Lalitpur they go around the Patan Durbar Square.

In this year’s Gai Jatra, I hope to experienced new things. I will first visit Basantapur and go to bhaktpaur to watch this Jatra. There were groups of people who were actively working to clean the streets and making people aware of recycling the waste products. In my opinion such programs are more effective to inform people about general issue like recycling in such festivals as many people come to participate and to watch festivals.

LALITPUR / PATAN DURBAR

                                           LALITPUR / PATAN DURBAR

Patan or Lalitpur is a city of fine arts. It is situated about 5 km south-east of kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Lalitpur is an ancient little city that is jam-packed with interesting history and heritage, epitomized by the Buddhist monuments and Hindu temples. The diversity of the medieval culture that allowed both Hinduism and Buddhism to flourish has left a rich legacy of impressive sightseeing in this city for today's visitors.

Patan Durbar Square

Lalitpur attracts many tourist each year. Of all the activities available to do in Lalitpur, you will more than likely end up in a historical building, museum or temple at one time or another. Lalitpur's museums are genuine worth the visit, when visiting one of them you can be sure to get a better understanding of the history of the Buddhism and Hinduism cultures. Some other places that draw much attention include places such as,

The Patan Durbar Square

The Patan Durbar Square is situated in the heart of the city. It is the focus of visitor's attraction. The Square is full of ancient palaces, temples and shrines, noted for their exquisite carvings. The Patan Durbar square consists of three main chowks, the Central Mul Cowk, Sundaru Chowk and Keshav Narayan Chowk. The Sundari Chowk holds in its centre a masterpiece of stone architecture, the Royal bath called Tushahity. This Square is definitely worth a visit.

The Ashokan Stupas

The Ashokan Stupas comprises of four ancient stupas popularly believed to have been built in 250 B.C. by Emperor Ahoka at the four corners of Patan.

The four stupas are situated in Pulchowk, Lagankhel, Ebahi and in Teta respectively. These stupas give evidence to the city's ancient religious importance.

Lalitpur also has a zoo which is very popular with tourist families. The zoo is situated at Jawalakhel and has many animals, birds and reptiles, mostly representing the Himalayan fauna. It also has a beautiful pond that was built in the 17 century A.D

NEWARI FOOD

                                                   NEWARI FOOD ITEMS

It was so delicious and testy try it

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NAAG PANCHAMI

                                                        NAAG PANCHAMI

Nag Panchami/ Nagara Panchami/ Nagpanchmi.

Nag panchami is celebrated on 5th day of bright half of Shravan month (Shrawan Shukla Panchami). In this year 2009, Nag panchami will be celebrated on Sunday 26th of July.

Naga is the word for snake in Sanskrit and this day is called Nagapanchami because snakes are worshiped on this day. According to astrology, Snake god is the lord of 5th day of a Hindu month, so it is considered to be the day meant for snakes. Garud Puran says that statues of snakes should be placed on both sides of the house on this day and Maha-naags like Ananta etc. should be worshiped.

According to Skand Puran’s Nagar Khand, all desires come true if one worships the snakes of Chamatkarpur. Narad Puran says one should observe fast on Kartik Shukla Chaturthi to avoid snakebite. It also suggests later that snakes should also be worshiped on Bhadrapad Krishna Panchami , fast should be observed and all family members should feed milk to snakes.

One time food should be taken on prior date 4th (Chaturthi) and complete fasting should be done on 5th (Panchami). On this day, draw five snakes using turmeric and sandalwood ink with the pen of silver, gold, wood or clay, and worship them with Kheer, Panchamrit, Dhoop, incense sticks, Naivedya and lotus flower etc. After the rituals, feed dishes like Kheer and laddu to Brahmins. One should not dig any surface on the day of Nagapanchami.

To worship snake god, make the snake of a rope and tie seven knots in it. Then place it on a wooden bench. Worship the deity with turmeric, rice and flowers etc. and offer the mixture of milk, ghee and sugar to the holy deity.

Sing hymns after worship and offer the mixture of milk, honey and some sugar to snake by putting it in front of any snake burrow. Take a little soil from there and draw the picture of a snake on the corner walls of home. Listen the story of Nagapanchami at the end.

Nepali Festival "Teej"

 

                                                    Nepali Festival "Teej"

"Teej" the fasting festival for women. Generally it takes place in August or early September. This festival is celebrate for three-day and that combines sumptuous feasts as well as rigid fasting. Through this religious fasting, Hindu women pray for marital bliss, well being of their spouse and children and purification of their own body and soul.

Traditionally, the ritual of Teej is obligatory for all Hindu married women and girls who have reached puberty. Exception is made for the ones who are ill or physically unfit. In such circumstances, a priest performs the rites. According to the holy books, the Goddess Parbati fasted and prayed fervently for the great Lord Shiva to become her spouse. Touched by her devotion, he took her for his wife. Goddess Parbati, in gratitude sent her emissary to preach and disseminate this religious fasting among mortal women, promising prosperity and longevity with their family. Thus was born the festival of Teej.

The first day of Teej is called the "Dar Khane Din". On this day the women, both married and unmarried, assemble at one place, in their finest attires and start dancing and singing devotional songs. Admist all this, the grand feast takes place. The jollity often goes on till midnight, after which the 24 - hour fast commences. Some women without a morsel of food or drops of water while others take liquid and fruit.

Gaily dressed women can be seen dancing and singing on the street leading to Shiva temples. But the main activities take place around the Pashupatinath temple where women circumambulate the Lingam, the phallic symbol of the lord, offering flowers, sweets and coins. The main puja (religious ceremony) takes place with offerings of flowers, fruits etc made to Shiva and Parbati, beseeching their blessing upon the husband and family. The important part of the puja is the oil lamp which should be alight throughout the night for it is bad omen if it dies away.

The third day of the festival is Rishi Panchami. After the completion of the previous day's puja, women pay homage to various deities and bathe with red mud found on the roots of the sacred Datiwan bush, along with its leaves. This act of purification is the final ritual of Teej, after which women are considered absolved from all sins. The recent years have witnessed alteration in the rituals, especially concerning the severity, but its essence remains. No matter how agonizing the fast may be Nepalese women have and will always continue to have faith in the austerities of Teej.