Festivals (Jatras) on the Month of Shrawan

The month of Shrawan Lets open the floodgates for jatras in the Valley

BUNGAMATI KUMARI JATRA

Bungamati Kumari waiting to be led out in the streets

The Bugumati Kumari waits to be led out into the streets. Huge crowds greet the annual procession of the Bungamati Kumari on the first day of the month of Shrawan, and onlookers gather to catch a glimpse of the Living Goddess and offer her their respects.

KUMBESHWOR MELA

Priest carrying a silver & gold Shiva linga

A priest carries the silver-and-gold Shiva Linga during the Kumbeshwor Mela at midnight on the night before Janai Purnima. Large crowds gather at the Kumbeshwor temple complex in Patan on the occasion.

GAI JATRA

Tall wooden structures with images of dead family members

Bhaktapur local celebrate as tall wodden structures with images of dead family members are paraded around. During Gai Jatra or the 'cow procession', families who have lost a loved on commemorate their dead by leading a decorated cow or a young male in a walk around the city. The details of the procession differ in the case of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur.

RAKSHA BANDHAN

Sacred yellow thread

A young Brahman boy performs the janai (sacred yellow thread) ceremony on Raksha Bandhan. The thread is tied on wrists, signifying year-long protection for the wearer.

  

MATYA

Performing elaborate skits for Matya

Residents of Patan perform elaborate skits for Matya. the festivals is celebrated on the day following Gai Jatra, and is characterized by the gathering of locals in main squares, where they put on costumes and perform comic shows that generally satirist social and political issues.

BOLBOM PILGRIMAGE

Devotees of Shiva in rituals

On each Monday of Shrawan, devotees undertake a pilgrimage, collecting water from sundarijal in pots and walking with these to the premises of the Pashupatinath temple in a bod to earn good health, wealth and happiness.

GHANTA KARNA (GATHE MANGAL)

Figure of demon/bad spirit burned

Also called Gathe Mangal, this is a day of driving out bad spirit. Effigies of evil creatures are made and burned amidst fanfare in a symbolic end of their reign. Offerings are also placed at cross- roads around localities on the occasion.

Statue of Serpent deity being washed with milk

NAG PANCHAMI

This is the annual day set aside for the worship of snakes. Pictures of Nags are punt on display over doorways and families gather to perform pujas. Snake Gods are widely worshiped as controllers of rainfall and evoke in times of prolonged drought




Source: The Kathmandu Post

GODS AT PLAY

For the Nepalese, the continuous flow of interrelated festivals throughout the year is literally a way of life, reflecting their joys and fears, dreams and sorrows. The festivals become a calendar, marking the changing seasons, the revolving of the years and ages, giving continuity and meaning to thie lives. They cement the strong and vital bonds between individual members in each family, as well as the ties within established groupings of case and clan and class.

Most of the celebrations originated centurions ago and have carried down through the ages from some mythological or perhaps actual event. vital for all good Hindus and Buddhists is the accrual of religious merit during one's time on earth to assure that life in the next world will be better. Towards this end offerings are made to the gods. especially on feast and festivals days. At certain festivals jatras are performed, when the idol is decorated and carried about in gala religious procession for a variety of reasons -  to honor him, present him to other gods and goddesses, or simply allow him the opportunity of watching some festival or ceremony with the celebrating populace.

Excerpt from the The festivals of Nepal by Marry M. Andreson

Historic Kathmandu

Observe the Kathmandu during 1940's-1970's - so clean, so less population and pollution, hope it would come back again. Pictures credits goes to original photographers. Pictures captions contain more information. The earthquake disaster faced by Kathmandu in which Dharahara, Clock Tower and many other building collapsed vanished are also included. Download them and go back in time machine :D