Nepal is a diverse country with multiple cultures, traditions, and religions. Also known as the land of festivals, each festival in Nepal has its own belief and ethnic background whilst unifying not only the country of Nepal but neighboring India as well.

Dashain - Dashain symbolizes the victory of good over evil and is celebrated as the most important festival in Nepal. It is also the longest festival, celebrated for a period of almost 15 days, falling during the months of September or October largely depending on the phases of the moon. Among the fifteen days on which it is celebrated, the most important days are the first, seventh, eighth, ninth and the tenth. The Goddess Durga is worshipped and there is a tradition of receiving tika and jamara along with blessings from the elders. Every community has their own tradition and rituals of celebrating this festival.

For followers of Shaktism, it represents the victory of the goddess Parvati. In Hindu mythology, the demon Mahishasura had created terror in the devaloka (the world where the gods live), but Durga killed the rakcchesh (demon). The first nine days of Dashain symbolize the battle which took place between the different manifestations of Durga and Mahishasura. The tenth day is the day when Durga finally defeated him. For other Hindus, this festival symbolizes the victory of Ram over Ravan as recounted in the Ramayana, the ancient Indian epic poem which narrates the struggle of the divine prince Rama to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana.

Tihar - Tihar also called Diwali or Deepawali, is known as the festival of lights which is celebrated just after Dashain, in the months of October to November. This festival is celebrated for five days by worshipping crows, dogs, cows, oxen, and Goddess Laxmi – the Goddess of wealth and luck.

Each Tihar holiday has its own tradition. The first day of Tihar they worship crows – the messenger of death. People sprinkle rice on the ground for the crows to peck in order to keep them happy, whilst they are kept busy they cannot inform the gods of bad news and bad things cannot happen the following year.

The second day is to honor dogs – the guardian for the god of death or the “gatekeeper of death”. The people of Nepal will often drape garlands around their necks and treat them to a fancy dinner. It Is said that the dog will lead the deceased across the river of death in the underworld and guarantee that the soul gets to heaven.

The third day is to welcome the Goddess Laxmi and worship cows, this day is the most important during Tihar festivities. As the sun sets, candles and oil lamps are lit in doorways, on steps, and even rooftops in an attempt to lure in Goddess Laxmi. If this day falls on a Saturday, shops remain open rather than follow tradition to welcome the goddess of wealth to bless their business.

The fourth day is for the Ox. An animal which is indispensable to farmers. Other cultures will honor different things on this day. Also, on this day is the beginning of the Newar New Year within the Kathmandu Valley when family members will get together to pray, feast, and exchange gifts.

On the fifth and final day of Tihar, brothers and sisters will gather to accept Tihar quotes written on their foreheads. The brother and sister will exchange garlands, the sister will offer a sweet candy as a gift. The brother will offer money. This tradition is said to enhance the closeness between siblings and a way of wishing good health and a long life to brothers by their sisters.

Teej – Teej is a Hindu festival celebrated by women and girls. The festival is celebrated on the 3rd day of Bhadra Sukala Paksha according to Nepali lunar calendar which generally falls between late August or early September.

It is a three-day long festival which is traditionally dedicated to the Goddess Parvati, in remembrance of her union with Lord Shiva. Teej is celebrated for the long life of their spouse and for the lasting relationship between them until death and all lives to come. It is also observed for the wellbeing of their children and the purification of their own body and soul which is why fasting is central to the rituals.

Dar Khane Din – The eve of the first day of Teej, is a day when all family members, especially the women, both married and unmarried gather together in their finest red outfits to dance and sing songs of devotion mixed with Nepali folk songs. They will then enjoy a great feast called Dar which consists of heavy food in preparation for fasting the following day. The celebrations will go on until midnight, after that 24 hours of fasting will begin.

The second day of Teej is the main day. Some women take fasting very seriously and will not even take a sip of water, others will drink liquids and eat fruit. Married women will dress in red in traditional style and wear many ornaments to visit a nearby temple dedicated to Lord Shiva singing and dancing as they go. In Kathmandu, many devotees go to Pashupatinath Temple – famous and sacred Hindu temple complex that is located on the banks of the Bagmati River. Once at the temple, women will worship the Lord Shiva symbol whilst making offerings of flowers, sweets, and coins. During the main religious ceremony or puja, offerings of flowers and fruits are made to Lord Shiva and Parvati pleading to them to grant their blessings upon their husbands and their families. The most important part of the religious ceremony is practiced during the evening by burning the oil lamp called diyo, which should burn all night and is traditionally presented to the married woman by the mother in law.

On the third day, women wake early, get cleansed and pray once again in front of the oil lamp and the Goddess Parvati. They will then eat a banana and a single leaf of holy basil (Tulsi). Only after can the women once again eat solid foods, but they must be pure foods made with pure ghee.

Rishi Panchami – The fourth day of Teej, women pay homage to many deities and will bathe in red mud found around the roots of the sacred Datiwan bush, along with its leaves. This is the final ritual of Teej, it is an act of purification as the women are forgiven from all of their sins.

Teej also welcomes and celebrates the arrival of the monsoon season after the long summer heat.

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