Patan Museum of Lalitpur Metropolitan Lalitpur 2020 City January February March April Agnisal Mela Mahashivaratri Falgu Purnima Paykhaa Jatra The file temple of Agnisal is flocked with devotees who It is a Hindu festival celebrated before the It is a Hindu festival of colours celebrated on It marks the first day of 3 days long litter Jatra believe the visit will help them to avoid current and arrival of spring that marks the Great Night of 21 the full moon day of the month of Falgun. of idols of Lord Ganesh, Kumar, Balkumari, 15 anticipated misfortunes because of the stars. Shiva, a Hindu deity. Don’t be surprised if you 09 8 People celebrate by painting each other’s face and Bhringareshowr Mahadev (Shiva) are stopped by kids in the alleys who are busy Place: Agnishal, Lalitpur, Ward no: 19 with vermilion and other colours, and eating celebrated in Sunakothi, a farmer village collecting alms for their bonfire on the Shivaratri delicious food. situated south of Patan. night. Gyo Chaku Sanlhu or Ward no: 26 and 27 of LMC Paan Chare Maghe Sankranti Samyak Mahadan It is a night and day carnival where Dipankara Paa chare is the Newar festival when they invite their Mayagu Khwa Swayegu The day is celebrated as a day when the Sun Buddha of the Golden Temple in Patan invites daughters and their families to share meals as the holy begins its transit to Capricorn (Makar) by 26-27 24 Din(Mother's Day) 15 all the other Dipankars and Avalokiteshwaras offerings after a pula to “Luku Madhyo”. On this day, people eating a meal with Ghee (Clarified butter), from all the Buddhist monasteries and temples worship Lord Shiva who is believed to be hiding underground Families rejoice when people bring gifts of delicious food and Chaku (Sugarcane molasse), sesame balls of the Kathmandu Valley and Kavre to offer as a “Luku mahadhyo”. clothes to their mothers on this day. The day is more special and Yam and taking oil head massage blessing 23 Mahadan. for married women who share special bonding with their from the elders. It is celebrated at Nagbahal, Lalitpur, Ward no: 16 family. In the morning, people whose mothers have passed Ghode Jatra away flock to nearby temples or Mata tirtha near Kirtipur, to offer alms in their mothers' memorial. Shree Panchami Ghode Jatra means horse parade, which is a It is a celebration of Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of 24 fitting title given the day's events. A horse rider 29 wisdom, skills and performance. Shree Panchami is also brings a horse all the way from Balkumari regarded as an auspicious day for performing traditional Gulpat Damaar to Patan Durbar Square after marriage rituals or other life rituals. a ritual to mark the day. Beginning of Bunga June Dyo Jatra August Bunga Dyo Jatra is the biggest and longest chariot festival of 27 Nepal, celebrated both by Hindus and Buddhists, which is Bhoto Jatra organised in Lalitpur for a period of a month. The day marks the official beginning of the chariot festival after a May This is the final event of the month long Chariot Festival of month-long preparation of building the chariot by locals. Janai Purnima Bungdyo. On this day, before the chariot is dismantled and Newars of Kathmandu Valley call this festival 09 Place: Pulchowk (ward 3) to Gabahal (ward 16) Bughdyo idol is carried to Bungamati village, an event to Gunhi Punhi which means 9th full moon of the display a lost and found vest, which is believed to be found by 03 year. On this day, Brahmin priests tie yellow Buddha Jayanti a farmer in his field in ancient times. sacred threads around the wrists of the faithful Jawalakhel Ground, Ward no: 4 or around the torso for a person coming from The celebration of the birthday of Lord Buddha Brahmin or Chetri lineage. A soup made out of 06 is organised by various neighbourhoods in 9 different legumes is the delicacy prepared at Patan, Bungamati or Sunakothi. It is every household. celebrated with great enthusiasm in Patan as 40% of the population is Buddhist. July Gai Jatra The festival of cows is one of the most popular festivals in Sithi Nakha Nepal. People with deceased family members parade cows in the memorial of the lost family member during the year. It This festival marks the end of yearly offerings to lineage deity 04 October is also common to see young boys decorated as cows given by all the Newa families by welcoming Kumar ( elder 28 Gathamuga Cahre (also Ghanta taking part in the parade. son of Lord Shiva) and cleaning the nearby water sources like wells, ponds and stone spouts. Waa or lentil pancake is a Karna) delicacy cooked in every household. Sikali Jatra/Khokana Jatra This celebration commends the expulsion of a legendary evil Matya Jatra spirit, Gathamuga or Ghantakarna (Bell-ears) who, as per Matya Jatra, literally the Festival of Light, is a Sikali Jatra or Khokana Jatra is celebrated during the first five myth, threatened the Kathmandu valley inhabitants. 19 typical Newar festival of Lalitpur. There is a days of the Mohni Festival (Dashain festival) in Khokana. Crossroads will be seen with burning hay man who custom that families with deceased members 17 resembles Gathamuga. 05 Khokana, Lalitpur, Ward no : 21 participate in a walk through every Buddhist Celebrated throughout the valley. stupas and other Hindu temples as a memorial. Light offered by many participants Nalaswanegu Din or Ghatastha- usually dressed in traditional dresses makes Naag Panchami it spectacular and makes everyone realise pana that death is the ultimate truth. September It is a festival to mark respect to serpents as the water It marks the beginning of Mohanni (or Dashain in Nepali), the guardians, and to ensure regular rainfall in the Kathmandu biggest festival of Nepa, celebrated by Hindus and Buddhistsl. 25 Valley. Krishna Janmastami People initiate a kalash, (holy water vessel) symbolizing 17 Krishna Janmastami marks the birth of Krishna. Thousands Goddess Durga and plant Nalaswa (or Jamara) in the prayer of devotees gather at the Shikara Style Krishna Mandir, Indra Jatra (pooja) room. Nagdaha Mela (Nagpanchami) believed to be made out of single boulder, in Patan Durbar Indra Jatra is the celebration of God Indra, the god of rain and 11 Square on this day. Visits by the former royal family and good harvest. It is celebrated for five days, but Samaya baji is A huge mela is organized at Nagdaha, believed to be the 01 head of the state to the Krishna Mandir makes this day offered at specific places on specific days; starting from dwelling of Champak Naag, situated in Dhapakhel of lalitpur. Phoolpati special for Patan Ekhachhen on 1st day to Purnachandi on 5th day. 25 People worship serpent god by offering dubo (Bermuda Fifth day of Mohani is celebrated in Phoolpati by bringing a grass), milk, paste of rice grains and red vermilion powder. vessel with flowers all the way from Gorkha to Kathmandu Ward no: 23 Purnachandi Bhuja Jatra 23 Valley. Bhimsen Chariot Jatra Nepalese Devotees carry a chariot of Lord Bhimsen during This festival is marked for a spectacular display of 12 heaps of the bhimsen jatra festival celebrated in Lalitpur. Deity decorated rice, as an offering to the Purnachandi temple near Pancha Daan Bhimsen is worshipped in belief of prosperity to business and 05 Gabahal. The heap is decorated with 84 traditional Newa Ashtami 13 Pancha Daan is the festival of offering five types of alms, to wealthy. dishes. The offering is believed to protect Patan from lightning. The eighth day of Vijayadashami is called remember and practise Buddha’s dana shila two of the 6 Maha Ashtami.Durga Bhawani and Kali Mata Mangalbazar, Lalitpur, Ward no: 16 Ward no: 20 moralities taught by Buddha. The Buddhists of Patan (different names and incarnations) are 28 8,24 observe Pancha Daan by offering alms using the resources worshipped with very high dedication. People of family trust maintained for offering daana, to monks. sacrifice animals to Goddesses. Baayagu Khwa Swayegu Din Usually a Dipankara or Avalokiteshvara idol is preserved by Buddhist families as a symbol of this trust, which is (Father's Day) displayed at the courtyards on this day. Mahanavami Families rejoice when people bring gifts of delicious food and Ninety day of mohani is marked by worshipping Durga or clothes to their fathers on this day. The day is more special Taleju Bhwani. At Patan Durbar Square, Taleju temple, 19 for married women who share special bonding with their 9,25 sacrificial rituals of 21 buffaloes are offered at the early family. In the morning, people whose fathers have passed November morning of Mahanavami. At Subahal, there is a special early away flock to nearby temples or to offer alms in their morning ritual where people believe that human sacrifices mothers' memorial. used to be made in ancient times on Mahanavami. Gunla Ko Puja (Kaag Tihar) 1 Aju/Aji Manakamana Jatra 2 Gunla starts fifteen days before the full moon. During these It marks the first day of Sunti (Tihar or Festival of Light). People auspicious thirty days the Buddhists devote themselves with 10 13 worship crows by offering them sweets and other alms for they Bungamati is also the home abode of Goddess Manakamana. 20 great enthusiasm. It is Celebrated in the Newar community. believe crows are the messengers of death. Bungamati observes Manakamana Jatra as the main festival 25 of Bungamati during Navami, Dashami and Ekadashami of 11 Dashain festival. 3 Teej Bungamati, Lalitpur, Ward no: 22 9 20 16 Khicha Puja (Kukur Tihar) 13 Teej is the biggest festival for Hindu women in Nepal.