Holi Festival

Holi or Fagu festival is being celebrated by smearing Abeer (red vermilion powder) and throwing colour and water-filled balloons at each other. An important festival of the Nepalese people, Holi begins on the eighth day of the new moon and ends with the burning of the “Cheer’, which was installed earlier, on the full moon day Saturday. more »


Chhath Festival

The second day (Friday Nov 16, 2007) of the Chhath festival was observed with great fervour at various places in Nepal, with women worshipping the setting sun and offering arghas. Thousands of devotees gathered on the banks of the river and ponds to pay respects to the Sun God. more »


BhaiTika in Tihar

tihar.gif By Rajesh KC

Bhaitika, the last and the main day of Tihar with much enthusiasm on Sunday. On this day sisters pray to Yamraja, the god of death, for their brother’s longevity and prosperity. According to the Hindu myths, the Goddess of fortune Laxmi offered bhai-tika to more »


gurus@gurukul

dashain_gurukul.gifBy Rajesh KC

Dashain is one of the longest and the most auspicious festivals in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese of all caste and creed throughout the country. The fifteen days of celebration occurs during the bright lunar fortnight ending on the day of the full moon. more »


Rishi Panchami

rishi_panchami.gifBy Rajesh KC

Rishi Panchami is celebrated by women, particularly in the hill region and the plains of Terai. Rishi Panchami falls a day after Teej. Though the way Teej is celebrated may differ according to different geographical regions, the festival holds a deep and moral significance among Hindu women. The festival is important because it is the time when Hindu women express how much devoted they are to their husbands. more »


Rato Machhindranath (Bhoto Jatra)

By Rajesh KC

Machhindranath, Buddhist deity of water and rain. Revered by medieval kings in Kathmandu Valley as guardian deity of Kathmandu Valley. Said to have been other names Padampani, Lokeswor, Avalokiteswor, Aryavalokotiswor, Karunamaya. Regarded as fish incarnation of LOKESWOR (hence also known as Matsyendranath) Distinguished as RATO MACHHENDRANATH (red) of patan and SETO MACHHENDRANATH (white) of Kathmandu. Feted in various festivals like BHOTO JATRA and public bathing ritual. more »


Indra Jatra

by Narendra Shrestha/Rajesh KC

This festival named after Lord Indra- the God of Rain and also the King of Heaven is celebrated by both the Buddhists and Hindus in Nepal in August/September. This festival lasts for eight days with singing, mask dancing and rejoicing. The chariot of Kumari “ the Living Goddess is taken through the main streets of Kathmandu with much fanfare. On the first day, the King of Nepal also pays homage to Goddess Kumari.

more »


Teej & Rishi Panchami

Teej is a festival special to women, married and single. Goddess Parvati went on a fast to attract Lord Shiva. In keeping with that tradition, married women fast for their husband’s long life, prosperity. The unmarried pray for the perfect husband. Dress in red and wearing ornaments, women light oil lamps and stay up all night. The festival culminates in Rishi Panchami two days later. On the eve of Teej, they cook all kinds of dishes and eat them at midnight, celebrate by singing and dancing. They are not supposed to eat on Teej day. more »


बोडे जात्रा

Festival of Bode
by Bikas Karki

Buddha Krishna Bagh Shrestha, 33, of Bode, Thimi walks with the pierced tongue in Bode during the Bisket Festival. It was Shrestha’s second year of piercing tongue. The festival which is one of the biggest for the Newar community of Bhaktapur is celebrated on the first week of each Nepali new year with chariot carrying and color-powders. more »


Photo feature: ९६औं अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय नारी दिवस

तस्बीरः विकास रौनियार/प्रकाश माथेमा/शालिग्राम तिवारीविकास रौनियार९६औं अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय नारी दिवसका अवसरमा विभिन्न सात महिला संगठन तथा ट्रेड युनियहरूले बुधबार राजधानीमा संयुक्त र्‍यालीका साथै विभिन्न कार्यक्रमको आयोजना गरी अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय श्रमिक महिला दिवस मनाए । नेपालका लागि राष्ट्रसंघीय आवासीय तथा मानवीय सहायता संयोजक म्याथ्यु काहानेले विगत केही सातामा देशका विभिन्न भागमा महिलामाथि हत्याहिंसा भएको र अपहरण गरिएको उल्लेख गर्दै आफ्ना प्रतिबद्धता पालना गर्न आग्रह गरे । more »