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Dashami
(October)
Dashami
glorifies the triumph of Good over Evil, of Goddess Durga's slaying of the terrible demon Mahisasura, who roamed the earth,
terrorizing the populace in the guise of a ferocious water buffalo. Ten days of intense sacrificial and joyous worship celebrate
fertility and the victory of good over evil, as represented by the goddess Durga Bhawani and the various gods who battle the
demons.
The
first day of Dashami is called Ghatasthapana, which means establishing of the holy water vessel which represents the Goddess
Durga. Barley seeds are planted in it.
The
seventh day or Phulpati is the offering of flowers and leaves, carried by runners from Gorkha, the ancestral home of the Shah
Kings of Nepal, and received
by the King in Kathmandu.
On Maha
Ashthami, the eighth day, the fervor of worship and sacrifice to Kali and Durga increases. Animal sacrifices highlight events
of the ninth night to appease Durga, the Goddess of Victory and Might. As animal sacrifices is not practice by many they replace
animals by vegetables.
Dashami
takes its name from Vijaya Dashami, the Great Tenth Day of Victory. This is the day when Lord Rama slew the demon Ravana and
when Durga vanquished the demon Mahisasura. On this day tika is received from brahmins. The tika symbolizing victory is a
blessing of good fortune.
Deepawali
& Lakshmi Puja
(November)
Tihar
is known as the festival of lights and is celebrated for five days. On the occasion of Laxmi Puja houses are illuminated at
night. An assortment of special sweets are prepared and offered to guests. At this time certain animals are also favored with
food and garlands. The first day of Tihar is dedicated to the crow, the second to the dog, the third to the cow and the fourth
to the ox. On the fifth day, women who have brothers offer them tika and special food. In return the brother gives his sister
a token of appreciation usually in the form of money and renews his commitment to protect her honor.
Chhath
(November)
There
is one Hindu festival that is that is known for its unique association to Mithila. It is devoted to the worship of the Sun
God. It is, therefore, also known as Surya Shashti. The festival begins on the sixth day of the month of Kartik in the Hindu
lunar calendar. This corresponds to the period beginning from late October to mid November, depending upon the year. It is
one of the holiest festivals for Mithila and extends four days long.
Vivaha
Panchami
(December)
(the
5th day following the new moon of Ashwin)
This
festival, commemorating the marriage of Sita to Ram. Ram, hero of the epic Ramayana and an incarnation of Vishnu had come
to Janakpur, was thekingdom of Sita's
father King Janak, to marry Sita. The occasion attracts thousands of pilgrims from India.
Maghe
Sankranti or Tila Sankranti
(Mid
January)
(first day of the month of Magh)
Maghé
Sankranti is the first day of the month of Magh. Magh is a sacred month so the first day is celebrated with a feast at home
that particularly constitute of til and brown sugar. Lord Vishnu the Preserver is worshipped and thanked for the return of
the warm season once more. Through the month of Magh, people busy themselves with religious activities such as taking an early
morning bath in holy rivers, visiting the shrines of Vishnu and offering flowers, incense and food, and reading the Bhagavad
Gita.
Basanta
Panchami & Saraswati Puja
(February)
(five
days after the new moon of Magh)
Both
festivals occur on the same day. This is the day that ushers in the spring season. Basanta Panchami is celebrated as beginning
of autumn season. In Saraswati puja day goddess of knowledge is worshipped. Many students fast on this day and eat only one
meal of pure vegetarian dishes to prove their devotion.
Maha
Shivaratri
(February)
(new
moon day of Falgun)
Maha
Shivaratri, or the Great Night of Lord Shiva, is observed in honor of Lord Shiva's day of birth. A great fair takes place
at the PashupatinathTemple as
thousands of pilgrims from all parts of Nepal and Indiacongregate
in celebration.
Holi
or Fagu-wa
(March)
(full
moon day of Falgun)
This
is a colorful occasion when people smear each other with colored powder and splash water balloons onto one another and youths
love to play. This continues for one full week. The fever of this game goes very high on the full moon day which is the last
day of celebration. In this day people exchange greeting as offer various sweets.
Ramnavami
(March)
Ramnawami
a big day for Hindu is celebrated in honor of the great Hindu King Rama on the 9th day of bright fortnight of chaitra (March).
But the main deity to be worshipped on this occasion is the all powerful mother goddess Durga, the wife of Lord Shiva, the
presiding deity of the Hindu pantheon because as and the holy Hindu scriptures say Rama was a great devotee of Durga her blessings
enabled Rama to kill his arch enemy, Ravana, the most dreaded demon king on this day. This day is symbolically commemorated
as the victory of virtue over vice.
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