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Photo Galleries of Major Festivals -
About some major festivals observed in Nepalganj
Vijayadashmi
The season of various festivals starts from late September or early
October till March every year. The season starts with 'VijayaDashmi,
the festival of victory of truth over evil.
'Vijayadashmi festival is started with 'Navratri' (The nine religious
nights) each dedicated to one of the form of Goddess Durga, The Hindu
Goddess of Courage and will. During these days at various places the
huge ststue of Goddess Durga shown killing the'Rakshas' (the devils)
at great enthusiasm.
The tenth day is celerated as Vijayadashmi. It is believed that Hindu
Incarnation of God Vishnu, Shri Ram, killed Ravan, on this day. On
this day people go to the home of their relations and put 'Tika' religious
Red powder mixed with rice put on their forehead by relatives.
Vijayadashmi' is celebrated as most important festival in Nepal.
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Deepawali
One more important festival is 'Deepawali' falling twenty days after
'Vijayadashmi'. 'Deepawali' is feastival of light and sweetmeat. It
is believed that 'Goddess Laxmi' The Goddess of wealth according to
Hindu culture, lives in the houses which are beautifully lit with
various types of lights. People lit their houses with various types
of coloured lights throught five days of Deepawali festival.
It is also believed that during his 14 years long exile Shri Ram,
the incarnation of Hindu God Vishnu, returned back to Ayodhaya, his
home, after killig Ravan.
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Holi
The last festival of this long season is 'Holi' the festival of colours.
Holi is celebrated by Hindus and also some muslims with great interest.
People enjoy by playing with dry and liquid colours among their relatives
and friends. Religiously, previous night of Holi people burn the 'Holika'
(holy collection of wood) on many of the squares in the city after
worshipping it. Then next day all play Holi with colours.
Click
on the image left for an enlarged view
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Maha Shiv Ratri
Another important festival falling in March is 'MahaShivRatri' .
Since morning, long queue of devotees, specially females, may be
seen in the Lord Shiva's temple in Bageshwari Temple premises. MahaShivRatri
is celebrated by Hindus as it is believed Lord Shiva married Goddess
Parvati on this night. This festival is celebrated mainly by females.
Married females keep fasting on this day for well-being of their
husbands. And un-married girls go on fast for having a good life
partner and their quick marriage also as well!
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Teej and Rishi Panchami
Teej and Rishi Panchami are festivals celebrated mostly by married
Hindu women. Rishi Panchami falls on third day after Teej. On the
day of Teej the women wear beautiful dresses and dazzling ornaments
and pray for the health ad long life of their husbands. The women
who celebrate the festival neither eat nor drink anything, not even
a single drop of water, on Teej day. Some of them invite purohits
to perform religious rituals, but most dressed in their best saris
and ornaments go out into the street to sing and dance. Some also
go to Maiti to see their relatives. They share their happiness and
sorrow by telling the story of their successful marriage or cursing
their fate for not being able to make their husbands happy. Their
songs reflect their mixed emotions.
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Basant Panchami
Just before MahaShivRatri, 'Basant Panchami', the festival of worshipping
Hindu Goddeess of knowledge 'Goddess Saraswati' was celeberated in
Nepalganj. On this day students worship 'Goddess Saraswati', the Hindu
Goddess of Knowledge. Also this is considered as fifth day of Spring
season. (Basant = spring season). Basant Panchami is celebrated all
over in Nepal by Hindus with great enthusiasm. From early in the morning
students clad in their best and colourful dresses go to the temple
of Goddess Saraswati. Also in almost all schools there is worship
of Goddess saraswati is performed. Then after some schools organise
cultural programs.
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Chhat or Surys Shashti or Dala Chhat
Chhat festival is celebrated on sixth day of second half of (moon-days
fortnight) 'Kartik' month of Hindu calender. This festival is mainly
celebrated in 'Bihar' state of India, but now is so popular that
it is observed just not in all over India but also in all parts
of Nepal too.
This is celebrated for two days. On first day, women and some men
fast for whole of the day. On the bank of any river or pond, women
make worship places of their own. Other people worship these worship
places and offer their religioos offerings like fruit, flower, incense
sticks, money, milk, water etc.
Women stand in river or pond till the time of sunset and at sunset
they offer milk, water offering to Sun, the God of energy in Hindu
mythology. They worship Sun with nicely decorated offering plates
having fruits, vegetables, incense sticks, flowers.
Next day early morning since dark, people again gather at river
or pond and again women standing in water offer milk and water offering
to rising Sun.
Then after only women break their fast by having 'Prasad' the religious
offering of fruits or sweets.
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