Maniramdu Festival

Sherpas belong to the Nying-Mapa sect of Tibetan Buddhist which is self an outgrowth of the Manayana tradition Guru Rimpoche (Padma-Sambhawa an Indian yogi) is regarded as the founder of this old sect and spirtual leader.

Legendarily born of a lotus in the middle of a lake, it is to Guru Rimpoche that the Prayers and maniwall inscriptions are address as “”OM MANI PADME HUM”, Hail to the jewel of the lotus. Religious book recount that Guru Rimpoche was a powerful Magician and sorcerer.

Sherpas celebrate many ceremonies in the region, including marriage ceremonies, Funerals, manning of a child, driving out evilspirits, obtaining Sonam (Merit) and other offerings to be made in the name of the local gods. Mani-Rimdu Festival

Mani Rimdu, a very important festival to the Sherpas, falls on the full moon day of Tibetan ninenth month (October/November/December). The three day celebrations of Mani Rimdu follow the ten-day non-stop prayer sessions addressed to the parton deities - seeking ” blessing for the good of all mainkind”. The portagoniest of all is Guru Rimpoche, the founder of Vajrayan Buddism in Tibet. Masked Lamas of Khumbu region perform various religious rituals amidts dancing and singing.

The first celebration of Mani-Rimdu at Monastery of Tyangboche (Everest region) seems to have taken place some time in 1930. It originates from Rongbukh Monastery in Tibet Mani-Rimdu is a prayer ceremony where the Monks put on masks representing divine personages and perform ritual dances.The spectators of devotion come from many village to gain Sonam (merit) from the head Lama’s blessing and making corn and grain contributions to the Monk’s community. Mani-Rimdu normally takes place every year in the month of November (full moon, it can be changed depending upon Tibetan Calender) and at-least for three days.This period coincides with the cessation of work in the village at the end of harvesting. Mani-Rimdu is the only big social event that draws together large crowds from all villagers in the Khumbu region

Bhaktapur by night

HNS -2009-11-03 9:10 PM
KATHMANDU: Live performances of customs and cultures under the full moon, bright stars and shimmering oil lamps made the passers-by almost lose their way. They seemed to be totally captivated by the fascinating hidden charms of the nightlife at Bhaktapur.

The 9th Bhaktapur Night held on November 2 at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, in fact provided a perfect time and place to get acquainted with the actual nightlife of Bhaktapur to those who are unfamiliar with it.
Students from different local schools performed traditional dances. One of them was Ghintang Kisi Dance, which is a stick dance and the students gave an attractive performance. In Dhimey dance, the performers danced to the beat of traditional drums wearing the traditional Newari attire. Jyapu-Jyaapuni dance, Astamatrika dance and Bhairav dance were some of the other dances performed during the event.
The Saki manaa Punhi Festival of Newars, a festival celebrated on full moon, was also being observed on the same evening. While the performances were being held at the Durbar Square, one could see local people making shapes of chariots and major temples of Bhaktapur out of wheat, maize, roti, and other different kinds of grains.
The event has been organised by Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee (BTDC) on the occasion of Saki manaa Punhi Festival for the last eight years with a motive to promote night tourism of Bhaktapur.

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Published on THT- 4th Nov,

Festivals & Events

Festivals and Celebration.

The legend states dances in the Indian subcontinent originated in the abode of Lord Shiva - the Himalayas, and the Himalayan Kingdome of Nepal - where he performed the tandava dance, and this indicates that dance traditions of Nepal are of very ancient origin. With altitudes and the ethnicity, dances of Nepal slightly change, in style as well as in the costume. Accompanying music and musical instruments also change in tune with the themes, which revolve round topics like crop harvestings, marriage rites, war stories, a lonely girl’s yearning for her love, and several other themes and stories from everyday life in the villages.

April-May :

Nawabarsa and Bisket - Nepali New Year and the festival of the God Bhairab in Bhaktapur. Four days of colorful parades and processions

Aama ko Mukh Herne Din - Mother’s Day (literally Mother’s Face Looking Day)

Rato Machhendranath - the festival of Lokeswar, one of the patron Gods of Kathmandu. A 40-foot tall chariot with the God’s image installed is pushed and pulled through the streets by hundreds of worshippers.

Buddha Jyanti - Celebrating the birth of the Buddha .

May - June:

Kumar Sasthi - A celebration of the birth of the Hindu warrior God Kumar marks the beginning of the rice planting season. It’s also celebrated by groups of boys who indulge in stone throwing fights.

June-July.

No major festivals in the wettest part of the monsoon season.

July-August

Gunla - A Buddhist Lent or Ramadan-like holy month of penance and pilgrimage, climaxing in a rollicking celebration.

Naga Panchami –

A festival devoted to the snake gods, who most Nepalis believe ruled the Valley before the coming of people.

Janai Purna –

the festival of changing of the sacred thread which every Brahmin caste Hindu male wears around his torso.

August-September

Gai Jatra - A festival to the sacred cow. Among other symbolisms of the cow, cows are believed to lead the souls of the dead to the underworld; and on Gai Jatra Newar households process around an ancient path believed to mark the city walls of times past, in honor of recently deceased members of their families. It’s also a carnival celebration with practical jokes - something like Mardi Gras combined with April Fool’s day.

Krishna Jayanti –

Celebrating the birth of the Hindu God Krishna.

Gokarna Aunsi Nepali Father’s Day

Tij Brata

A womans’ festval . Worshippers undergo fasting and penance and seek good fortune and long life, and a ritual purification of self. The three (or four) day celebration ends with a great feast.

September-October

Indra Jatra - A Kathmandu festival celebrating the legendary capture of the King of Gods, Indra, in the Kathmandu Valley. This week-long festival is marked with many processions, street dancers, and the annual blessing of the King by the Living Goddess of Kathmandu.

Dasain –

Two weeks of happy celebration and gift-giving, interwoven with bloody animal sacrifice to appease the mother goddess Durga.

October-November

Diwali - A festival of lights, when homes and offices are strung with colored lights and illuminated by candles. This is also the festival of the Goddess Laxmi, goddess of wealth, and is celebrated by much good-natured gambling.

November-December

Indriani Puja - Festival of the Goddess Indriani and of the various mother goddesses which protect each village in Nepal.

Sita Bibaha Panchami - Celebrating the wedding of the Goddess Sita and the God Ram with mock wedding processions

Dhanya Purnima - A full moon festival celebrating the end of the rice harvest.

December-January

Seto Machhendranath - A cleansing ritual for the White (seto) Machhendranath, a counterpart god to the Red (rato) Machhendranath who’s chariot procession is in April-May.

January-February

Lhosar - the Tibetan and Sherpa New Year, celebrated by thousands at Bodhnath Stupa and monasteries throughout the country.

February-March

Shiva Ratri - The all day and all night festival of the great God Shiva.

Holi - a rowdy festival of “colors”, in which participants douse themselves (and sometimes unwary onlookers) with colored powder and liquid, and generally have a great time.

March-April

Ghora Jatra - a horse festival, celebrated with coach processions and races and displays on the main parade ground in Kathmandu.