Bisket Jatra (Nepali New Year)
Tihar (Deepawali)
November 10 - November 14, 2023
According to myth, Yamaraj, the god of death, came to take a guy's soul. His sister begged to have his brother's life to be spared. Her relentless begging and crying made Yamaraj spare the guy's life on one condition. He won't be taking the guy's life until his hair is wet and the flower he got doesn't die. The clever sister bathed the hair of the guy in the oil, making it wet all the time, and made him a garland of Globe Amaranth, which never withers. Impressed by the girl's cleverness, Yamraj spares the guy's soul. Dog (Man's best friend), crow (god's messenger), cow (symbol of mother), and Ox (the symbol of hard work) are worshipped during the festival ending with sisters putting rainbow color tikas on brothers' forehead and giving them Globe Armanath garlands. Brothers promise to protect their sisters and also provide them with a gift. It is also called the festival of colors, as beautiful lights are shined everywhere to worship and welcome the goddess of wealth, Laxmi.
Dashain (Bijaya Dashami)
October 15 - October 24, 2023
Celebrated for 15 days, Dashain is one of the most popular festivals in Nepal. According to Hindu Mythology, demon MAHISHASURA ran havoc in Heaven after getting a boon from the God Shiva (One of the three primary Hindu gods). He was so egoistic that he thought no woman could match his strength, so he asked to be unbeatable and unkillable by any man as a boon. Durga, the goddess of war, power, and motherhood, battled the demon for nine days and won on the tenth. Nine manifestations of Durga are worshipped each day, while elders put on tikas and give blessings to the younger family members in the tenth. Kids are also gifted clothes and money.
