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Gai Jatra

Gai Jatra , ( gāi means cow and jātrā means festival in Nepali : गाई जात्रा, and Nepal Bhasa : सा पारु) is a festival celebrated in Nepal , mainly in Kathmandu valley by the Newar community. [1] The festival commemorates the death of people during the year and is generally celebrated in the month of Bhadra (August–September). The date is set according to the lunar Nepal Era calendar: it falls on the first day of the dark fortnight of the month of Gunla . The Festival of Cows is one of the most popular festivals of Nepal. It is celebrated to diminish the sadness from the death of family members. During the festival, cows are marched in the streets. People also distribute food to others. The whole complex of Gai Jatra festival has its roots in the ancient ages when people feared and worshiped Yamaraj , the god of death. However, the ironic sessions synonymous with the Gai Jatra festival entered the tradition in the medieval period of Nepal during the reign of the Mal
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Buṅga Dyaḥ Jātrā (Rato Machindranath Jatra)

Buṅga Dyaḥ Jātrā ( Nepal Bhasa : बुंग द्यः जात्रा ) is a chariot procession honoring the Buddhist deity of compassion Avalokiteśvara held in Lalitpur , Nepal . The name Rato Machhindranath means ‘ Red Fish God’ . Rato as in red, Machhindra or Matsyendra means fish and Nath means god, even the statue of the deity is red in color. The legends behind Rato Machhindranath (also known by the names of Karunamaya and Bunga Dyah ) are so many that is hard for me to say which one is the real one. Maybe that’s why they are called legends. All legends are not contradicting to each other. It’s just that they are like different versions of the same story told by different people in their own set of values and beliefs. Most of the time the names and characters differ but the story is the same of a drought in the valley for which to end people seek out the help of Rato Machhindranath . Buṅga Dyaḥ is also known as Raktalokitesvara Karunamaya and Rāto Machhindranāth and is revered as
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Biska Jatra

Biska Jatra is an annual event in Bhaktapur , Dhapasi Thimi and Tokha and various places in Nepal. The festival is celebrated at the start of the new year on the Bikram Sambat calendar, however, the festival itself is not related to Bikram Sambat.  Legend has it that this celebration is the "festival after the death of the serpent". Numerous areas of Bhaktapur city celebrate this festival according to their own ritual. The most eventful places in the course of the festival are Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Thimi Balkumari. A huge chariot carrying a statue of the God Bhairava is pulled by hundreds of people to the Khalla Tole. Approximately a month earlier, the chariot is assembled near the Nyatapole temple (five stair temple). The most spectacular event on Bhaktapur Tamadhi is a huge tug-of-war between the Thane ( upper) and Kone (lower) part of town. Each team tries to pull to their side but later the chariot heads toward Khalla Tole. A huge approximately 25
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Kartik Nach

Kartik Nach, a traditional cultural dance, is being performed upon Kartik Dabali of Patan Durbar Square in Lalitpur. “Kartik Nach usually lasts for 27 days but this year it will only be performed for 12 days. “This year, it began from October 24 and will be performed till November 4,” said Kiran Chitrakar, president of Kartik Naach Preservation Committee. Various mythical stories are depicted through this dance. On the first day, ‘Sudama Pyakha’ was performed and second day ‘Bath Pyakha’ was performed. From the third day, ‘Usha Haran Lila’ was performed and will continue for five days, according to Chitrakar. Usha Haran Lila depicts the love story of Anirudra, the grandson of lord Krishna and Usha, daughter of Banasur. Ujjwal Shakya, 24, is playing the role of Anirudra and Sojan Raghubansi, 25, is playing the role of Usha. This dance was first introduced by King Siddhi Narsingh Malla to maintain social, cultural and religious harmony among the people of various castes.
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Nhu Daya Vintuna (New year)

Newars marking New Year resolution in Tihar    On the fourth day of Tihar, both Mha puja and New Year day is commemorated as per Nepal sambat calendar. Most of the Nepalese mark their New Year resolution on 1 st Baisakh of Vikram Sambat calendar. So,this New Year of Nepal Sambat virtue is an extraordinary celebration among Newars. Newar community has their own calendar, famously known as Nepal Sambat. Nepal Sambat started of its career on 20 th October 879 A.D. but it was soon officially disapproved at the beginning of 20 th century. History has saved appearance of Nepal Sambat in old coins, inscription plates, doctrines, chronicles, royal decrees and Manuscripts.This year 2016/17 corresponds to 1138 in Nepal Sambat calendar. Initially, Nepalese traders used to close down their ledger and open up new fiscal account on this day. Tales behind New Year celebration   An astrologer of king of Bhaktapur calculated an auspicious time and date for the accumu
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Lakhey

Lākhey ( Nepal Bhasa : लाखे, lā-khé) (alternative spellings Lākhe , Lākhay , लाखय्) is a demon in Nepalese folklore. He is depicted with a ferocious face, protruding fangs and mane of red or black hair. Lakhes figure prominently in traditional Newar culture of Nepal Mandala . The Lakhe tradition is found in the Kathmandu Valley and other Newar settlements throughout Nepal . Lakhes are said to be demons who used to live in the forests and later became protectors to the townspeople. A female Lakhe is known as Lasin (लसिं). Dancing Lakhes Lakhey Dance is one of the most popular dances of Nepal. Performers wearing a Lakhe costume and mask perform dances on the streets and city squares during festivals. The mask is made of papier-mâché and yak tails are used for the hair. The Lakhe dance is characterised by wild movements and thumping music. The most famous Lakhe is Majipa Lakhey of Kathmandu who appears during the Yenya (Indra Jatra) festival in September. [
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Khokana (Jitapur)

Khokana is a former Village Development Committee (VDC) which has been merged with the neighbouring VDC's of Bungamati , Chhampi , Dukuchhap, Sainbu and other 38 VDC's to form the Metropolitan City of Lalitpur in Lalitpur District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal . At the time of the 1991 Nepal census , Khokana had a population of 4258 living in 699 individual households. According to 2011 Nepal census , Khokana had a population of 4927 living in 1056 individual households. Khokana, a traditional and tiny Newari village about 8 kilometers south of Kathmandu (on the outskirts of Patan ). Khokana is mainly known for the production of rich mustard oil since ancient time. It was also the first town in Nepal to be lit with electricity in 1911 AD during the reign of Rana Prime Minister Chandra Shamsher . Khokana has been nominated to be listed as a Unesco World Heritage , representing a vernacular village and its mustard-oil seed industrial heritage.   Fes
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