Cultural festivals and ceremonies in Pokhara

A number of varied ethnic communities have their own various cultural festivals  which  they  celebrate at  certain time  with  differential  ways. Table 2.3 offers a comprehensive list of such festivals with their names, celebration times, celebrating ethnic groups and their actual ways of celebrations.

Table 2.3 List of cultural and religious festivals as added attractions for tourism in Pokhara

Name of the festival and celebrations	Approximate date of celebration	Who celebrates	How celebrated
Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, i New Year Day	First day of Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, i month Baisakh (Middle of April)	Almost all of the populace	People put on new clothes, eat delicious food and wish prosperous life to each other.
Mother’s Day	Middle of April	Almost all of the populace	Offer good food to mothers and beg blessings. Persons whose mothers have already died pay homage to them.

 

Buddha Jayanti	Full-moon day April-May	Almost all people of Pokhara, especially the Buddhists	Grand procession goes round the city with banners, slogan for perpetual peace, carrying Buddha's statue and picture on a chariot.
Asar Pandhra	During last week of June	Almost all people, especially the farmers.	Celebrated planting paddy, playing with mud and eating Dahi-cheura (yogurt and dried rice)
Rakchhya Bandhan	Full moon Day. August	All people celebrate generally	Brahmins and Chhetris wear sacred cotton string especially made for that purpose. Other people celebrate eating Quanti (mixed food with different cereals).
Gai-Jatra	From next day of Rakchhya bandhan up to Krishnastami	Mostly Newars, sometimes other ethnic groups also	Decorated cows with Tayamacha dances are taken around the Pokhara town praying eternal happiness to the departed souls of the family members.
Naga Panchami	July-Aug	Hindu families celebrate	The sacred image of Naga (snakes) are stuck on the doors and worshipped with a belief that there would be no harm to the family.
Krishnastami	August	Mostly Hindus and some other religious people.	Grand procession goes around the city acclaiming god Krishna and singing his songs, carry krishna’s images on a chariot.
Father’s Day	August, September	Almost all people	Offer good food to father and get blessing. Persons whose fathers are already dead pay tribute to them.
Teej	September	Mainly the Hindu women	Women wear new red saris and perform dances in groups publicly wishing and praying their husbands’ long life.
Bada Dashain	October, continues for 10 days	All the Hindus of Pokhara	Animal sacrifice to goddess Durga (Bhagavati) is the most prominent. Every yard of the temple of Durga can be seen offering blood of animals. People get tika and blessing from their elders and eat meat and enjoy.
Kojagrat Purnima	Full moon-day October	Almost all people come to celebrate in Barahi Temple, Fewa lake.	There occurs a great fair in Fewa lake side. People enjoy different kinds of swings and watch boating competition.

Tihar	October- November continues for 3 days	All people celebrate	This festival goes on for three days. At the evening all houses are lighted with lamps and candles. People worship the goddess Laxmi for prosperity and wealth. They celebrate Mhapuja (especially Newar) and Bhaipuja
Tamu Lhosar	Last week of December	Gurung (Tamu) people celebrate as the New year’s day.	There occurs a great fair in Lakesides especially for the foreigners or tourists.
International New Year Day	1st January	Everybody celebrate especially the youths and hotels in Lakeside. There occurs a great fair in Lake side especially for the foreigners (tourists)	Gurungs celebrate it with great enthusiasm and express best wishes to all. Conduct a grand procession which goes around Pokhara Bazaar.
Maghe Sanskranti	First day of the month of Magha (middle of January)	All people celebrate	People eat seasonal fruits especially yam, ghee and molasses. Khichadi (rice cooked with pulse and a little ghee) is the especial meal of that day.
Basanta (Shree) Panchami	Last week of Jan-First week Feb.	Although a Hindu festival, almost all people celebrate	People visit the Saraswati temple (worship the goddess of wisdom); especially students worship for success in exam. From this day summer starts and spring ends; also called Basanta Panchami.
Shiva Ratri	February- March	Hindus gather at shrine of Shiva and celebrate	In different communities, people make bonfire in the evening. In every shrine of Shiva, people offer puja to Lord Shiva.
Holi	March Full- moon day	All people except Muslims and Christians.	This celebration is very colorful, different kinds of colorful powders are blown in the air and also smeared on the faces singing holy songs.
Chaite Dashain	Last week of March or First week April	Only few Hindus especially Brahmins and Chhetris celebrate as their culture.	Eat delicious food; some people do sacrifice at the Bhagawati Temple as they do in Bada Dashain.

Source: Compiled by author