Nepal is a Himalayan country that has hosted the mighty Himalayas, which is the largest mountain range in the world, since ages of yore. Did you know that Nepal hosts almost 70% of the entire Himalayan mountain ranges? This is why almost 60,000+ visitors and travellers from all across the globe come to her land and try their hands (and legs) on scaling the many heights of this mountain range.
Nepal trekking tours is gathering a different fandom of its own. The most famous treks till date are the, Annapurna base camp trekking tours and the Everest trekking tours.
Spirituality is paramount at these heights. If not in the urban spaces, rural spaces offer a lot of scope for spiritual and enlightening experiences on her land. We enjoy not only her land and her terrains, but we also enjoy the 500+ tribes that have resided on her foothills. They are all the sons and daughters of the Himalayas. And each tribe/ ethnicity has their unique food, culture, traditions, festivals, language and a way of livelihood.
With all its amazing richness and luscious flora and fauna, we love to visit Nepal each year on the days when the country herself is in the mood for a celebration. Here is a list of all the days and the reasons why Nepal will be celebrating, in the year 2020.
Sonam Losar (Tamang new year) – 25th January 2020/ Saturday Sonam Losar is a festival marking the start of a new year according to the Buddhist calendar of the years, and is celebrated by the entire Tamang community all over the world. On this day, people who are Buddhists and from the Tamang community, come forward with a festive vibe, and pray to the spirit animal of that particular year. Khapsyes and Ruk-Ruks (festive delicacies) along with Chyango (festive ale) is eaten and drunk as a start of a replenishing new year. After the ale does its trick, the Tamang people gather in large numbers, to perform the Tamang Selo which is a traditional form of music and dance of the Tamang community. Visit Nepal at the time of this year and have a part in the celebrations as you gorge through the festive delicacies.
Maghe Sankranti – 15th January 2020/Wednesday This Nepali holiday is celebrated on the first day of Magh which is the month of January according to the Nepali calendar. This day is celebrated to mark the end of the long winter solstice. On this day neighbours exchange all kinds of roots such as yams, sweet potato, purple yams, and ghee to celebrate.
Maha Shivratri – 21st February 2020/ Friday In the month of Magh, comes a dark fortnight and on the 14th day of that fortnight, Nepal celebrates Maha Shivratri. This translates to “The Night of The Lord Shiva”. One must make sure to visit the Pashupatinath Temple on the night of Maha Shivratri to witness the intense celebrations on this night.
Buddha Jayanti – 7th may 2020/ Thursday The birth of the lord Buddha happened on this day. Monasteries are cleaned and decorated with flowers, eatables, incense and the traditional Khada on this pious day. Millions of Buddhists from all over the world flock to the birthplace of the Lord Buddha on this day, to offer their prayers.
Phulpati (Dashain/ Dushhera) – 23rd October 2020/ Friday One of the most celebrated festivals of Nepal; Phulpati marks the beginning of the festival of Dashain. It is celebrated for 6 days. In these 6 days families visit their elder families to receive Tika and blessings from their elders as a tradition. There is a lot of food and happening festivities on these day. After Phulpati comes, Astami, Nawami, Dashami, Ekadashi, Duwadashi. On Phulpati, a parade of people holding white sheets walk on the road, as the people throw leaves and flowers on the white sheets from their homes and balconies… it’s a beautiful sight to watch.
Lakshmi Puja (Tihar/Deepawali) – 15th November 2020/ Sunday This is also a very grandly celebrated festival. On this day the people worship the goddess Lakshmi and ask for her to visit their home that night and bless their home with prosperity. The following day is the Gobardhan Puja, when a Puja is done in the house and purified with cow dung. The following day is Bhai Tika, a festival for brothers and sisters. Do not miss the special spectacle at the night time, called the tradition of Deusirre and Bhailo. This is when the youth of the villages gather at night outside the house of each person in the village to make merry and dance and sing till they receive Ashish (blessings).
From time of yore, we have seen the Himalayas being mentioned in numerous forms of art, such as poem, paintings, stories, music, films and cinema. The magnificent vistas and landscapes that we are allowed to witness on the various trails of her land are countless and all, breathtaking. The Himalayas rejuvenate the senses of the traveller with each breath of the pristine Himalayan air that they take. Come Experience Nepal For Yourself.
