Festivals of Lalitpur Lalitpur Metropolitan City Calendar 2021 Patan Museum January June September November Agnisal Mela Sithi Nakha Ko Puja (Crow Tihar) 14 The file temple of Agnisal is flocked with devotees who 16 This festival marks the end of yearly offerings to lineage deity Baayagu Khwa Swayegu Din believe the visit will help them to avoid current and given by all the Newa families by welcoming Kumar ( elder 03 It marks the first day of Sunti (Tihar or Festival of Light). anticipated misfortunes because of the stars. son of Lord Shiva) and cleaning the nearby water sources 07 (Father's Day) People worship crows by offering them sweets and other Place: Agnishal, Patan, Ward no. 19 like wells, ponds and stone spouts. Waa or lentil pancake is a alms for they believe crows are the messengers of death. delicacy cooked in every household. Families rejoice when people bring gifts of delicious food and clothes to their fathers on this day. The day is more special for Gyo Chaku Sanlhu or married women who share special bonding with their family. Khicha Puja (Dog Tihar) In the morning, people whose fathers have passed away flock Maghe Sankranti to nearby temples or to offer alms in their mothers' memorial. It marks the second day of Tihar. People worship dogs by offering them good food and other alms for they believe that The day is celebrated as a day when the dogs show their way to heaven upon their deaths. Sun begins its transit to Capricorn (Makar) by eating a meal with Ghee (Clarified Teej Laxmi Puja (Cow Tihar) butter), Chaku (Sugarcane molasse), 09 Teej is the biggest festival for Hindu women sesame balls and Yam and taking oil head in Nepal. Teej is traditionally dedicated to the It is celebrated on the third day of Sunti and one of the most massage blessing from the elders. 04 July Goddess Parvati, remembering her union important days of Sunti. On this day, people worship Laxmi, with Lord Shiva. Hindu women keep a rigid the goddess of wealth and prosperity. In the morning cows fasting in for their husbands which is are offered special alms as people resemble cows as believed to give them long and healthy lives. Goddess Laxmi herself. No Particular Chatha Mha Puja (Self Tihar) In Nepal, it is mostly celebrated by Newars.This festival is Fourth day of Sunti (or Tihar) or Mha Puja is 10 also known as Ganesh Chaturthi (celebrated in different 05 also celebrated as a new year for Nepal ways in India). People worship the waxing moon on the 4th Sambat or Newar Calendar. On this day, people Festival day after no moon. February worship their own body in a family ritual, after cleansing their body, where they offer themselves a puja and treat themselves with Rishi Panchami Newar feast. Shree Panchami 11 Rishi Panchami, the last day of Teej festival celebrated by 16 It is a celebration of Goddess Saraswati, the Hindu women, is being marked across the country. On this goddess of wisdom, skills and performance. day, women keep a fast after performing a body and soul Kija Puja (Brother’s Tihar) cleansing ritual at a nearby river in the morning. Shree Panchami is also regarded as an 06 Last day of Sonti. It is the day where sisters meet their auspicious day for performing traditional brothers and offer a ritual to wish long and good lives to their marriage rituals or other life rituals. brothers. Brothers offer gifts to their sisters in return to show Indra Jatra their affection. 19 Indra Jatra is the celebration of God Indra, the god of rain and good harvest. It is celebrated August for five days, but Samaya baji is offered at specific places on specific days; starting from Ekhachhen on 1st day to Purnachandi on 5th day. Gathamuga Cahre (also Ghanta Purnachandi Bhuja Jatra 07 Karna) March 20 This festival is marked for a spectacular display of 12 heaps of December This celebration commends the expulsion of a legendary decorated rice, as an offering to the Purnachandi temple near evil spirit, Gathamuga or Ghantakarna (Bell-ears) who, as Gabahal. The heap is decorated with 84 traditional Newa per myth, threatened the Kathmandu valley inhabitants. dishes. The offering is believed to protect Patan from lightning. Mahashivaratri/Silachare Crossroads will be seen with burning hay man who Place: Purnachandi Temple, Patan, Ward no. 20 11 It is a Hindu festival celebrated before the resembles Gathamuga. Yomari Punhi arrival of spring that marks the Great Night of 19 Yomari Punhi is a Newari festival marking the Shiva, a Hindu deity. Don’t be surprised if you end of the rice harvest. People of the are stopped by kids in the alleys who are Gunla Arambha Kathmandu Valley worship Annapurna, the busy collecting alms for their bonfire on the Marks the first day of Gunla, which is the ninth month of Goddess of Grains, for the rice harvest on this Shivaratri night. 09 Nepal Sambat Calendar. During this lunar cycle, the Newar full moon day. A delicacy It is celebrated as a community practice good deeds and perform spritiual jatra at Harisiddhi, Lalitpur, Ward no: 28 and 29. rituals at various temples. Many restrict themselves in a Place: Harisiddhi, Lalitpur, Ward no: 28 and 29 Falgu Purnima vegeterian diet during the month. 28 It is a Hindu festival of colours celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Falgun. Naag Panchami October People celebrate by painting each other’s face with vermilion and other colours, and 13 It is a festival to mark respect to serpents as the water eating delicious food. guardians, and to ensure regular rainfall in the Kathmandu Valley. Sikali Jatra/Khokana Jatra 07 Sikali Jatra or Khokana Jatra is celebrated during the first five Nagdaha Mela (Nagpanchami) days of the Mohni Festival (Dashain festival) in Khokana. A huge mela is organized at Nagdaha, believed to be the Place: Kokhana, Ward no. 21 dwelling of Champak Naag, situated in Dhapakhel of lalitpur. People worship serpent god by offering dubo (Bermuda grass), milk, paste of rice grains and red vermilion powder. Nalaswanegu Din or Ghatastha- Place: Dhapakhel, Ward no. 23 pana April Yala Pancha Daan It marks the beginning of Mohanni (or Dashain in Nepali), the biggest festival of Nepa, celebrated by Hindus and 15 Pancha Daan is the festival of offering five Buddhistsl. People initiate a kalash, (holy water vessel) types of alms, to remember and practise symbolizing Goddess Durga and plant Nalaswa (or Jamara) Pannchare in the prayer (pooja) room. Buddha’s dana shila two of the 6 moralities 1 2 10 Paachare is the Newar festival when they taught by Buddha. The Buddhists of Patan invite their daughters and their families to observe Pancha Daan by offering alms using 10 share meals as the holy offerings after a the resources of family trust maintained for Phoolpati offering daana, to monks. Usually a pula to “Luku Madhyo”. On this day, people Fifth day of Mohani is celebrated in Phoolpati by bringing a 11 Dipankara or Avalokiteshvara idol is 12 worship Lord Shiva who is believed to be vessel with flowers all the way from Gorkha to Kathmandu preserved by Buddhist families as a symbol 3 hiding underground as a “Luku mahadhyo”. Valley. 9 of this trust, which is displayed at the 20 16 courtyards on this day. 13 19 8 Ghode Jatra Ashtami/Kuchibhwey 4 12 7 11 Ghode Jatra means horse parade, which Janai Purnima 13 The eighth day of Vijayadashami is called 6 Maha Ashtami.Durga Bhawani and Kali Mata is a fitting title given the day's events. A Newars of Kathmandu Valley call this festival horse rider brings a horse all the way 22 (different names and incarnations) are 13 Gunhi Punhi which means 9th full moon of worshipped with very high dedication. People from Balkumari Gulpat Damaar to Patan the year. On this day, Brahmin priests tie sacrifice animals to Goddesses. Durbar Square after a ritual to mark the yellow sacred threads around the wrists of the day. faithful or around the torso for a person coming from Brahmin or Chetri lineage. A 15 18 14 soup made out of 9 different legumes is the Mahanavami/Shyakutyaku Nepali New Year delicacy prepared at every household. 14 Ninety day of mohani is marked by worshipping Durga or 14 Marks the 1st day of Nepali New Year Taleju Bhwani. At Patan Durbar Square, Taleju temple, 25 according to Bikram Sambat Calendar. sacrificial rituals of 21 buffaloes are offered at the early Gai Jatra morning of Mahanavami. At Subahal, there is a special early People climb one of the four highest hills of 23 the valley like Fulchoki, Shivapuri, The festival of cows is one of the most popular festivals in morning ritual where people believe that human sacrifices 28 23 28 Chandragiri, Nararjuna on the eve in order Nepal. People with deceased family members parade cows used to be made in ancient times on Mahanavami. to see the sunrise from the top of these in the memorial of the lost family member during the year. 26 hills. It is also common to see young boys decorated as cows taking part in the parade. Aju/Aji Manakamana Jatra 29 Bungamati is also the home abode of Goddess anakamana. Bungamati observes Manakamana Jatra as the main festival 27 Matya Jatra of Bungamati during Navami, Dashami and Ekadashami of 24 24 Matya Jatra, literally the Festival of Light, is a Dashain festival. typical Newar festival of Lalitpur. There is a Place: Bungamati, Ward no. 22 custom that families with deceased members participate in a walk through every Buddhist 22 stupas and other Hindu temples as a Payaa Piha Woigu (Khadga Jatra) memorial.