History of Nepal

History of Nepal

Nepal has interesting history.let me tell you in details. 
                        Many dynasties ruled over Nepal in the past.It is believed that the Gopal Dynasty was the first.In Sanskrit Go means Cow and pal means tender.Hence,the gopals came fromMathura,India,with Lord Krishna in the Silver Age(Dwaper Age).They established Pashupatinath and worshipped him.With their arrival,

            Mahishpals who succeeded the Gopals ruled Nepal for 161 years.Mahish in sanskriti means buffalo and pal means tender.They also came from Mathura after the Gopals.They were also called Ahirs.They were engaged in agriculture and animal hudbandry.

The kirants came and overthrew the Mahishpals,and ruled Nepal for some 1,225 years.They occupy a prominent place among the indigenous people of Nepal.Many religious texts like the Mahabharata,Vedas,Ramayana,Puranas including other ancient literature like kautiliya’s Arthasatra have mentioned about the kirants.

              The first kirant king was yalambar.The kirants were of Mongolian stock.They worshiped Lord Shiva in the form of Kiranteswar Mahadev.They also worshiped snakes,cats,monkeys,eagles,trees,rivers,stones etc.It shows that they believed in nature worship.Their holy book was called Mundhum.They performed their rites and rituals according to their Mundhum.Language and script development during their rule.They had their own script it.By the time of the kirant rule,a partriarchic society was established in Nepal though their women folks fought alongside men during the war.

              After the kirants came the Lichhavis.Among the inhabitants of ancient Nepal,they were a civilized and cultured race.They are said to be the first Aryans to rule Nepal.Supashpa,the first Lichhavi ruler,founded the Lichchhavi dynasty.Many Lichchhavi kings ruled in their eight centuries of dynastic succession Mandev and Amshuverma were other famous rulers of the Lichchhavi period.In many stone and metals plates of the Lichhavi period,one finds the language of the kiranti period like hamhu,kumhu,sing,gu etc.in use.

             During the Lichhavi period,language ,script and culture were further refined.The lichhavi rulers took great interest in the welfare and prosperity of the people.The health of the people was given priority;health centers were built.The Lichhavi had a patriarchal society where women were respected.Women worked like men in the affairs of the state.They were also given full freedom in education and religion.In the Lichhavi period,joint family system was in practice.If any one was caught for theft,murder or seditious act,his entire family was penalized in those days.Amshuverma put a halt to this practice,and only the guilty was punished.

 

  Man behind Nepal unification and their history

    Prithvi Narayan Shah gave stability to the unification of Nepal.Prithvi Narayan Shah was born on 27^th of Poush,1779BS (7^th of jan 1723 AD) in Gorkha.Gorkha was quite powerful among the chaubise States of Gandaki region.He was enthroned after the demise of King Naraphupal Shah in 1799 BS.In a decicated efforts to fulfil the dreams of his father,King Prithvi Narayan Shah for the first attempt attacked Nuwakot in 1800 BS.However,he lost.On this account,he diverted his attention to empowering the military force.

                  He,with ammunitions,guns,gunpowder,etc.came back to Gorkha from Varanasi (Banaras).Then Nuwakot was under Kathmandu.It protection was monitored and supervised by Jayanta Rana.Jayanta Rana was previously the army head of Narabhupal Shah.After the first defeat of Gorkha with Nuwakot,he took asylum in Kathmandu and Jay Parkash Malla deputed him to govern over Nuwakot.Jayanta Rana had visited Kathmandu when Gorkha made an attack at Nuwakot for the second time.Jayanta Rana had handed the responsibility of the security of Nuwakot to his son Sankhami Rana before his visit to kathmandu.Meantime,Gorkhalis killed Sankhamani Rana during the conquest of Nuwakot.

                     An attack was made at Belkot after the conquest of Nuwakot.In this course of time,Jayanta Rana had returned to Belkot from Kathmandu.He was apprehended and dispatched in this Belkot fight.After triumph over Nuwakot,Prithvi Narayan Shah planned to attack Kathmandu Valley.He captured Farping,Pandey gawn,Sunagawn,Khokhna and other villages.Later,he attacked Kirtipur.The three Malla States combated with the Gorkhalis.Kalu Pandey was butchered in this battle.The Gorkhalis did not have any choice except for surrender.Prithvi Narayan Shah did not concede even after this defeat.Fight was rampant between the kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley.In  the meantime Prithvi Narayan Shah seized Palanchowk,Shivapuri,Kavrekot and Kavilashpur taking advantage of the disunity of the valley kings.On account of existence of trail from Makwanpur to Kathmandu Valley to export goods Prithivi Narayan Shah began an attack at Makwanpur.King Digbandhan Sen of Makwanpur absconded from the raid.Makwanpur was by far captured.The military force of Nawab Mirkasim of Bengal,as a guard for defense of Makwanpur King,detailed in the supervision of Gurgin Khan,also submitted  Moreover,the Gorkhali troops took over Hariharpur.

                      King Digbandhan Sen of Makwanpur and his family were captured.Under the supervision of Sur Pratap, Shah the Gorkhali troops attacked Kritipur.However,they became unsuccessful again.After a huge military training,Prithivi Narayan Shah raided over Kritipur.He was able to capture Kritipur.Prithivi Narayan Shah cut off the facial parts of fifteen Kritipure for the death of few Gorkhalis caused by them.

                 King Jay Prakash Malla of Kathmandu sought assistance from the British India Company to defeat Gorkhali troops.The British came with the armed force to fight against Gorkhalis.After the British force went back,the Gorkhalis proceeded ahead to conquer Kathmandu valley.On the day of Indra Jatra,the Gorkhalis conquered Kathmandu.Finally,King Jay Prakash Malla went to King Tej Narsingh Malla of Patan.After the seize over patan by the Gorkhalis ,King Tej Narsingh Malla of Patan and King Jay Prakash Malla fo Kathmandu went to Bhaktapur for security.

Despite the letter sent by Prithivi Narayan Shah to King Ranjeet Malla asking him not give asylum to Jay Prakash Malla and Tej Narsingh,Ranjeet Malla refused for three consecutive days and this resulted in the slaughter of 1700 soldiers of Bhaktapur and 50 soldiers of the Gorkhali troops.In fact,King Ranjeet Malla was the blood brother(Meet Baa) of Prithivi Narayan Shah’s father.Finally,King of war in Laxmipur where he passed away.As per his wish,Prithivi Narayan Shah made arrangements for Tej Narsingh Malla to burn his dead body in Arya Ghat.the Gorkhalis after the conquest of three Malla States headed towards West to invade the Chaubise Rajyas,However in Tanahun battel the Gorkhalis had to suffer failure.

                           In the east,Bijaypur and Chaudandi States were powerful.Nevertheless,the Gorkhalis with remarkable gallantry subjugated Chaudandi.The Gorkhalis maintained the annexation to Bijaypur across Koshi,which resulted Nepal’s unification up to Tista River.

Thus, Prithivi Narayan Shah extended “Nepal to Mechi river in the east,Tibet in the North,Bihar(India) in the South”.Prithivi Narayan Shah passed away on Magh 1,1811 BS.

 After the death of King prithvi Narayan shah......

                The Regency of Queen Rajendra Laxmi

After the death of Prithivi Narayan Shah ,his descendants gave continuity to his unification campaign.His son Pratap Singh Shah became the king and he was successful to extend the territory of Nepal upto Kavilashpur,Upardand Gandhi,Sumeswor-Godhi and Chitwan .Pratap Singh Shah untimely passed away.After his death his small son Rana Bahadur Shah,two and half years old,was put into throne.He was too young to handle the political matters and govern of the country.So,his mother Rajendra Laxmi took over the power and became the regent.She also could not proceed on with the political efficiency herself.She asked a favour from her brother-in-law Bahadur Shah who was residing at Betia of India at that time.when Rajendra Laxmi called him back he came to Nepal and ruled the country jointly for five months.Later,he had a misunderstanding with Rajendra Laxmi in the matter of his intension to annex Tanahun state.Therefore he again returned to Betia.Having learned their misunderstanding Parbat,Lamjung and Tanahun states united together and attacked on Gorkha in January of 1780 AD.However,the Gorkhali troops under Amar Singh Thapa defeated them.During the region of Rajendra Laxmi,She was in the mission of western unification so,She sent Gorkhali troops to invade Tanahun under  the leadership of Amar Singh Thapa,Bansraj Pandey,Damodar Pandey and Balvadra Kunwar.The state of Kaski also suffered a heavy loss of Gorkhali’s attack over Tanahun.Because of the Kaski estates act of treachery,24 states were deafeated by the Gorkhali troops.Parbat did not digest the act of kaski,so declared war against kaski and made a fierce attack.In such a situation Kaski sought help from Gorkha.Both Kaski and Gorkhali  troops combinedly fought against Parbat.This was a devastating battle .Parbat suffered a heavy loss in this battle.After defeating Parbat the Gorkhali troop which was under the leadership of Bansraj Pandey withdrew from the battle field.After sometime Gorkhali troops were again heading to conquer Parbat and Palpa,meantime Kaski attacked Lamjung.Later the success was in the side of Gorkhali troops who kept on capturing pallo Nuwakot.Garhun,Rasing,Virkot,Satahun etc.Within a year all 24 states were annexed to Gorkha Kingdom.It was obivious that Rajendra Laxmi played a vital role under her regency in the unification campaign of 24 states.It was misfortune that Rajendra Laxmi passed away on 2^nd Shrawan,1842 BS.

                             After the demise of Rajendra Laxmi,Bahadur Shah returned to Nepal and acted as a regent on behalf of the minor King Rana Bahadur Shah.The annexation of Palpa and Parbat was still incomplete so he intended to conquere other states also including palpa and Parbat and make bigger Nepal.For this purpose he tied a matrimonial Knot with the daughter of King Mahadutta Sen.This relation became a significant gateway on the way to unification .In 1843 BS Bahadur Shah invaded Arghakhanchi,Durkot and Gulmi.Parbat was also annexed into Nepal in Ashwin the same year.Being encouraged with the annexation,Bahadur Shah wished to unify more states of western part so he sent Gorkhali troops to Pyuthan,Dang,Rolpa and were captured.At the same time Jajarkot came under the rule of Nepal.In this way Bahadur Shah was able to annex 24 and 22 states of Gandaki and Karnali region into greater Nepal.Then his attention was attracted to western Kumaoun and Godhawal beyond Mahakali river.Under the leadership of Amarshing  Thapa,being gallant,headed to invade kumaoun and Godhawal.

                     On account of Bahadur Shah’s successful Leadership,Nepali troops exceeded with their expectation.Under the leadership of Amar Singh Thapa,the Nepali troops seized Dailekh,Achham including Tarimghat and Surkhet.After the conquest over Almoda across Mahakali river Nepali troops captured Alanknanda region without armed attack.However,to conquer Alaknanda,Gorkhali troops had to fight with King Gadawali .Nepali troops reached up to Alaknanda after signing a treaty with the new government of Kumaun.Gorkhali troops took over Almoda;Kingdom of the new government of Kumaunon 11 th Chaitra,1847 BS and Kingdom of Gadhawal on 12 th Ashadh,1848 BS.

Thus,Bahadur Shah made great contributions in Nepal’s Unification Campaingn.Beginning from Prithivi Naraayna Shah,the Unification Campaign continued until Bahadur Shah’s regency or governance.It is natural for any Nepali to sympathize with the fact that along with the growth of Ran Bahadur shah,he imprisoned Bahadur Shah on the charge of treason.However,Bahadur Shah was farsighted,politician,efficient administrator,patriot and an able son.

Culture and Tradition

    Religous Traditions and Festivals

                      Nepal is a multicultural,multilingual and multiethinic country.Similarly, Nepal has the people of different religious tolerance among the people.However,the people who follow Hindu religion are in great number.Besides this,Buddhism is another popular religion of Nepal.The founder of Buddhism is Gautam Buddha.Who was born in Lumbini,Nepal.He is famous as the Light of Asia.There are many followers of Islam,Christianity,Shikhism,Jainism and Kirat religion.Every religion has its own values and norms.People of every religion can celebrate their festivals according to their culture and traditions.Some important festivals are as follow.

  Some festival which is celebrated by different religious communities of Nepal.And This festival is also known as national festivals

      Dashain:

            The Hindus all over the world celebrate Dashain.It is also known as Bada Dashain,Durga Puja,Dusshera and Kalipuja.It falls in autumn in the months of either September or October every year.It is celebrated for fifteen days from the day of Ashwin Shukla Pratipada i.e., Ghatasthapana till Purnima,Goddess Durga is worshipped on the occasion.She is regarded as the Goddess of Power.

The elder members in the family put Tika and Jamara and bestow blessings to the younger members on the tenth day to mark this occasion .The tenth day is remembered as the Day of Victory i.e,Vijaya Dashami.The other major days of Dashain are Phulpati of Saptami,kalaratri or Mahasthami and Mahanawami,which fall on the seventh,eighth and the ninth day respectively.

                        It is a festival of union in the family,of great joy and extreme delight.People put on new clothes and eat delicious food.They go to Dashain fair and exchange greetings and good wishes.People,rich or poor,enjoy alike.

            It is believed that this festival is celebrated to mark the victory of Goddess Durga over Maisasur,a demon,and Lord Rama over Ravana,the demon King of Lanka.This festival,therefor,symbolises the victory of good over evil and truth over falsehood.

    Tihar:

                It is another great festival of the Hindus.People celebrate it with great pomp and show.It comes about fifteen days after Dashain.This festival is also called Diwali or Deepawali i.e.,the festival of lights.It is observed for five days from Kartik Krishna Dwadashi up to Kartik Pratipada.The first two days of this festival are dedicated to Kag i.e.,the crow,and Kukur,i.e.,the dog.The third day is called Gai Tihar or Laxmi Puja.Cows are worshipped on this day in the morning and Goddess Laxmi in the evening.She is regarded as the Goddess of Wealth.People clean their houses,decorate and illumine them all night by putting candles,small oil lamps or colourful electric bulbs.And they pray that Goddess Laxmi dwell in their house.People,particularly girls and women play Bhailo in groups on the night of Laxmi Puja.The Gobardhan Puja is observed on the fouth fay and oxen are worshipped.People play Dheusi during the night and the next day.

The final day is called the Bhaitika.On this day,sisters worship their brothers and wish for their long and healthy life.They put tika and garland them.They serve different varieties of sweets,fruits and delicacies to their brothers.The brothers,in turn, give them cash and gifts.

          It is believed that this festival is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Rama to his Kingdom in Ayodhya after fourteen years in exile.

        Chhat

          Chhat is a great festival of the Hindus of central Terai.especially the Maithili people.It is a festival of the Sun-God.It is celebrated on the fifth day of Kartik Shukla,six days after the Laxmi Puja.Both men and women celebrate this festival.However,only women observe fast during the day for three days,worship the setting sun in the evening and then only eat.On the sixth day,they all gather around richly decorated platforms near a local pond or a nearby river early in the morning.They take bath and workship the rising sun with flowers and lamps for the long life and good health of their husbands.After finishing the worship,all the family members sit together and eat variety of sweet.It brings happiness and joy in the family and community. 

     Lhosar:

           Lhosar is a Buddhist festival.Lho means year and Sar means new.Lhosar thus basically is a New Year festival.It is celebrated mainly in the Himalayan region by the Gurungs,Tamangs and the Sherpas.They celebrate Lhosar according their own community and customs.Some celebrate it on 15^th of Poush,some on Magh Shukla Pratipada and others on Falgun Shukla Pratipada.The Gurungs have Tamu Lhosar,the Tamangs celebrate Sonam Lhosar and the Sherpas observe Gyalpo Lhosar.

Lhosar is a festival of feast,joy and dance.people draw swastiks,symbol of peace and good fortune ,in their homes.They also decorate their homes with paintings of natural elements like the Himalayas,the sun,and the Moon.They wear new clothes and eat sumptuous meals.They generally gather at public places and play games,engage in fun,sing and dance.They alos visit their elders and seek their blessings for a healthy and prosperous New year.They exchange greetings and gifts with each other. 

   Christmas

                    :The most important festival for the Christians is Christmas.It is also known as X-Mas.The letter X represents the holy sign Cross for the Christians.It falls on 25 December every year.It marks the birth anniversity of Jesus Christ,the founder of Christianity.It is generally celebrated for three days from 24 to 26 December.

Christmas eve is celebrated on 24 December.On Christmas eve,they decorate a pine tree called Christmas Tree with candles,colourful papers,balloons and flowers.They keep  the presents and cards given by their friends and relatives under this tree.They open them later to know who owns the most and best of them.They have great fun.

The Christmas father is Santa Claus.It is believed that he comes during the night and leave presents for the children in their socks.During the day,they go to church and pray together.They put on special caps and new clothes.

26 December is known as Boxing Day.Rich people give boxes full of gifts or money or food and clothes ot the poor people.They visit their friends and relatives on the occasion and have a lot of fun,is celebrated as the New Year Day.The christian era started from this date from the time of jesus Christ.They exchange New Year greetings and wish each other good health and prosperity in life.

  Eid:

          Eid is a New Year festival of the Muslim community according to the Hijri or Hijaratera.The Hijriera began from the time of Prophet Mohammad who is the messanger of their Allah.All the Muslims follow the Hijri calender.It is believed that some people threatened to kill Prophet Mohammad while he was preaching his ideas.He along with his followers,therefore,left Mecca for Medina.This journey is called Hijara which means migration.Mecca and Medina are thus the two most holy places of the Muslims.

The Muslims observe a month long fast called Roza during the month of Ramjan.They do not eat anything,not even drink water during daytime.All the family members sit together and eat after sun set.They believe that this will purge and discipline them.They celebrate the last day of Ramjan as Eid-ul-Fitr.They congratulate,embrace and greet each other Eid Mubark which means Happy New Year.They put on new clothes,eat variety of sweets and visit their friends and relatives.They go to the mosques and read Namaz.They also give alms called Zakat to the poor,disabled and needy people.

All these religious festivals carry the message of love and peace.They help to foster friendship,brotherhood and peace in society.Hence,they promote national unity and integration.

Maghe Sangkranti

                   Maghe Sangkranti has a great importance in the Nepalese society.Most of the Nepalese festivals are based on lunar calender.Yet there are some festivals which are based on solar calender.Nawabarsha(New Year),15^th Asar,Saune Sangkranti along with the Maghe Sagrakanti are the festivals based on solar calender.

Sangkranti means the first day of the month .Therefore,Maghe  Sangkranti is observed on the first day of the month –Magh.This festival is observed to mark the end of winter season.During December 22^nd the sun comes gradually to norhern hemisphere,and the palces at the nothern hemisphere start to get warmer.

Maghe Sangkranti is a social festival.It is celebrated in different ways in different parts of the country.In hilly regions people gather at the riverside and take bath early in the morning and eat Til ko Laddu(a kind of sweet made of sesame),boiled roots(yam,sweet potato,potato,etc.)and Khichadi (dish made with rice and lentil together ).It is believed that all the food that we eat on this day shall have been cooked at the previous day(end of the Poush month)except Khichadi.In terai,especially in Tharu community,this day is celebrated as ‘Maghi’.This day marks the New year in their community.Many of the fairs are organized at different parts of the country.The fun and excitement of these fairs are remembered throughout the year.

This is the one of the days of celebration of social value.such celebrations construct our culture and traditions.It is our duty to conserve these festivals which are celebrated by different communities of the country.

Ram Nawami

                 Ram Nawami is one of the important festivals of all the Hindu people of Nepal.It falls on the 9^th day of the full moon fortnight of Chaitra.It is believed that the Lord Ram was born on this day.Lord Ram was one of the most influential incarnations of Lord Vishnu who is one of the Trinity.Lord vishnu is the God who takes care of all the living beings after being created by Brahma.It is believed Lord Mahesh (Shiva)takes the life later on.

Ram was an ideal person.He was obedient to his parents and the caretaker of responsibilities.We gain Knowledge of obedience,brotherhood,peace,endurance,tolerance,apology,justice and above all the truthfulness by studying his life.

Many people observe this day with fasting .Early in the morning people visit the temples of Lord Ram.A grand fair takes places at Ram Janaki Temple in Janakpur. 
 

        Religous Traditions and Festivals

            Nepal is a multicultural,multilingual and multiethinic country.Similarly Nepal has the people of different religious tolerance among the people.However,the people who follow Hindu religion are in great number.Besides this,Buddhism is another popular religion of Nepal.The founder of Buddhism is Gautam Buddha.Who was born in Lumbini,Nepal.He is famous as the Light of Asia.There are many followers of Islam,Christianity,Shikhism,Jainism and Kirat religion.Every religion has its own values and norms.People of every religion can celebrate their festivals according to their culture and traditions.Some important festivals are as follow.

Janai Purnima

          Janai Purnima is the common name of the festival Rishi Tarpani or Raksha Bandhan.This festival falls on Shrawan Shukla Purnima (The full moon day of Shrawan).This day is one of the most important days for the Hindu community because it has highly religious value.People take bath early in the morning and the male members of Brahman and Chetri change Janai for the year.Janai is the sacred thread,which they start to wear after the Bratabandha or Upanayan ceremony.On the same day all the people receive another sacred thread yagyopavit(Raksha Bandan).It is believed that this tread prevents them from on every kind of misfortunes.In the terai sisters tie Rakhi on the brothers’ wrists,secure their brothers making from any kind of mishaps.On this day all the people of Newar community prepare a special Kind of soup,Kwanti which is made by mixing nine different kinds of seeds.

Teej

          This festival is celebrated by the women of Hindu society.This festival falls on Bhadra Shukla Tritiya (the third day of the full moon of Bhadra).This festival is also known as Haritalika.On this day all the women observe fasting for the whole day.It is believed that in the Vedic period,Parvati observed fasting on this day hoping to marry with Lord Shiva.And just after that she got married with him.So,the married women celebrate this festival for better status and long lives of their husbands,and the unmarried girls wish for good husbands.On the eve of Teej(The evening before the fasting day)all the women eat ‘Dar’ with the family members.Dar is a special meal,prepared for that special day of Teej.

Shree Panchami

               The festival which is celebrated on the fifth day of Magh Shukla Panchami (the fifth day of the full moon day of Magh)is famous as Shree Pancchami.This is also called as Basanta Panchanmi as spring season begins from this day.Saraswati is worshipped on this occasion Saraswati is the goddess of learning and wisdom.Most of the people of Hindu community go to the near by Saraswati temple and worship her.This is the special day for the students.People believe that this students.People believe  that day is the best day for their children to start formal learning because they believe that goddess Saraswati gives them a divine blessing on this day.

In Buddhist community,this day is called as Manju Panchami.Manjushree is the god of learning for the Buddhists.

  

Udhauli/Ubhauli

       This is the main festival of the Rai c ommunity.This festival is celebrated  on two days of the year.The first is the Udhauli and other is the Ubhauli.Udhauli falls at Kartik/Mangsir and Ubhauli in Baishakh/Jestha.This festival is celebrated differently at different places.Some people celebrate it with chandi Nach,some with Sakela or Sakewa or some with Sakela or Sakewa or some other with Baishake or Badanmet.It is because Rai community has different cultures at different places.At this festival Nakchhong(the priest)recites Mundhum at different religious places like Chandithan,Margathan or Mangkhim.At every household people celebrate this festival worshipping ancestors and dance playing with Dholjhyamta.They eat different delicious foods and enjoy together.

THE BISKET JATRA

One of the most a colourful Jatra which celebrates in ancient city of Bhaktapur 18 kilometer far from Kathmandu. The Bisket Jatra, which marks the end of the Nepali month of Chaitra and the beginning of a New Nepali  Year in Baisakh, welcomes one and all in and around Bhaktapur and beyond its boundaries

This Bisket Jatra is famous because of  ‘tongue piercing' and the festival is celebrated with much pomp and fanfare A volunteer from the Shrestha family gets his tongue pierced in a spiritual trance with an iron spike and walks around the town shouldering a round bamboo rack with flaming torches. tongue piercing ceremony that takes place during the chariot procession. It is believed that the successful completion of this painful rite brings good fortune to the villagers & the volunteer himself.

The famous festival, which is observed for eight nights and nine days,  according to historical records  it  has been marked since the Lichchhivi era (c. 450-c. 750), The Jatra  started worshiping Bhairabi temple nearby Paanchtale temple in Naumadi .

During the festival, a chariot procession is held in Bhaktapur and images of Ganesh, Lakshmi and Mahakali are carried around town.

The Bisket Jatra marks a cultural ecstasy in Bhaktapur. Prominently observed at the adventof spring, it is a festival of human emotions that are symbolically depicted through the multiple aspects of the festival.The central point of folklore, as it goes, is about the slaughtering of a pair of snakes by a handsome young man bestowed with tantric powers.It is said that the two serpents came out of the nostrils of a beautiful princess when she sneezed at midnight. In the twinkling of an eye, they transformed into huge serpents. When they were about to strike the young man, he killed them, using his tantric powers.

Having found the youth alive and the serpents dead, Bishwo Malla, the then ruler of Bhaktapur,

According to mythical beliefs, Bhairab and Bhadrakali are the divine male and female forms of the firmament and the Earth, respectively. It is said that the conjugation of the sky and the earth made creation possible on our planet. The rain that showers from the sky on earth is considered the life-giving element, while the earth is the foundation of creation. The hole in which the Yoshin is erected is the symbol of the female creative organ, Guheshwori. introduced the practice of hoisting two long flags on wooden poles, designed after the shapes of the killed serpents. The long poles were addressed as Yoshin, more popular as phallic symbols among the locals today. The banners are also known as ‘Bishwo dhoja’ after the king. The hoisting of these flags is observed annually with much enthusiasm.

The Bisket Jatra is also a celebration of this joining of Bhairab and Bhadrakali who are addressed as Bhaila Deo and Nakinju Ajima in the local dialect. Metallic idols of the deities are brought out of the temples four days prior to the erection of the Yoshin in separate chariots called Bhaila Kha and Nakinju Kha. The chariots are voluntarily drawn by festive people. Therefore, the concept of the Jatra is essentially based on conjugality, creation, and continuity of life.

Two different poles are erected during the Jatra. One of the poles possesses two extended arms while the other has none. The Yoshin without arms is erected a day earlier than the one with arms, and is put up at the Potters Square in the morning hours.

The Yoshin with arms is erected in late evening on the eve of the Nepali new year. The huge crowd gathered for the occasion sings songs of joy during the procession.

Energetic youths attempt to climb the pole, using big ropes in order to get hold of the plants placed at its top. Anyone who is able to do so, it is believed, will increase his chances of siring a male child.

The pole is positioned perpendicularly to the sky and the earth for 24 hours. The event is followed by a big feast all over Bhaktapur.

The dawn of the New Year is a joyous moment for all Bhaktapurians. Many of them assemble on the Yoshin Khel in the early hours of the morning, paying homage and making sacrifices to Bhairab and Bhadrakali up until midday. The cheerful atmosphere and the festive gala signify the advent of a new Bikram year.

The Yoshin is taken down in the evening of the New Year. Tunes are played with flutes, drums, cymbals and other musical instruments, and accompanied by singing every now and then. After the Yoshin is laid to the ground, people come together to pull the chariots towards Gahiti—one of the toles in town.

At midnight, the Bhairab and Bhadrakali chariots are brought together, symbolizing copulation. But this time, the Bhairab chariot does not move a single inch. It is the Bhadrakali vehicle which keeps dashing passionately over to Bhairab at midnight.

The wholesomeness of the Jatra makes it a dynamic living heritage of Shangri-La for all those who love culture.

Indrajatra :Yanya Puni

Indra Jatra is one of the biggest Jatra (Festival) of Kathmandu Valley. It is also called Yanya Punhi ( Full moon) This is celebrated both by Buddhist and Hindus. Varieties of cultures and traditions can be seen on this festival. It is also believed that Indra Jatra is a festival of classical dances. Indra Jatra is named after God Indra, the king of heaven.

On the third day of the festival of Indra Jatra, the living goddess Kumari ventures out along with lord Ganesh and lord Bhairav in a chariot in the procession. Kumari, is said to be an incarnation of the goddess Taleju. Chariots of Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairav move around the city for three days. 

Kumari : The living Goddes :  The festival begins with the  erection of Yosin, a ceremonial pole, accompanied by the rare display of the deity Aakash Bhairab, represented by a massive mask spouting beer and liquor. Households throughout Kathmandu display images and sculptures of Indra and Bhairab. 

On the first day, a long wooden pole is erected in front of the ancient Royal Palace at Hanuman Dhoka, in order to propitiate Lord Indra, the”god of rain”. To celebrate Indrajatra classical dancers were shows dances wearing different kinds of traditional masks and costumes and go through dancing the different temple and around the courtyard of Hanuman Dhoka.

On the third day of the festival of Indra Jatra, the living goddess Kumari ventures out along with lord Ganesh and lord Bhairav in a chariot in the procession. Kumari, is said to be an incarnation of the goddess Taleju. Chariots of Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairav move around the city for three days. According to Hindu faith Ganesh is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is wife of Lord Shiva. It is believed that Ganesh has the head of an elephant. Bhairav is one of the forms of Lord Shiva.

On this day, previously the king used to pay homage to the Kumari and now the president of Nepal pay homage to Kumari the living Goddeses.

Dus Avatar : This is a festival which is celebrate at night in a time of Indra Jatra. Dus Avatars which is a show of a ten incarnations of  God  Lord Vishnu. Which is staged in Kathmandu Durbar Square, in the neighborhood of the Kumari Temple. ‘Dasha Avataras‘ are also enacted by the artists. In this occasion there intriguing dances of Masks God and Goddeses

Majipa Lakhe dance is one of the main attractions of the jatra. Majipa Lakhey is considered as the calm Bhairabh It is a beliefs that the Bhairab protects the children from evils and demons. In this occation Lakhenani (Guthi) organises the dance which takes place for a week. Majipa Lakhey one of the most popular symbol of Nepalese culture and religion.

Pulu Kisi is  believed to be the carrier of Indra himself. Pulu Kisi goes through the streets of the ancient city Kathmandu in searched for his imprisoned master. Pulu Kisi comes with the team of cusical band and go around the street doing naughty and mischievous things by running swinging its tail in an amazing manner which makes people excited and laugh.

Yomari Punhi - one of the popular Newar festivals is observed every year during the full moon of December.A yomari is a food item which is a mixture of new harvest rice-flour dough shaped like fig and filled with brown cane sugar  called Chaku and sesame seeds, which is prepared by steamed. This delicacy is the chief item on the menu during the post-harvest celebration of Yomari Punhi. On this Yamari Puni, people of the Kathmandu Valley offer worship to Annapurna, the goddess of grains, for the rice harvest. Groups of kids go neighborhood door to door to beg yomari by singing in the evening to mark the festival. The delicacy plays a very important role in Newar society. According to some, the triangular shape of the yomari is symbolical representation of one half of shadkona, the symbol of Saraswati and wisdom.

Newari cultural

Introduction

Newar's are very rich in culture because of their unique living life style. From the birth of child to the death of the man there are several ritual customs family gatherings  which are very unique. The way of living and the celebration of different festivals which binds the newar peoples  with each other . The traditional customs which also cause of making the newari culture rich. 

The Newari culture is very vast and it consists of many caste each with different culture, tradition and their own values. The unique culture and tradition of Newars have been recognized all around the world and has gained overwhelming respect of all.

There are various festivals such as Machabu byankeyu when the child becomes seven days. As the girl or boy child grow up according to the growth there are several ceremonies and gatherings such as birth day celebration, rice feeding, Bara tayegu, Kayetapuja, Marriage. Here are some of them to explore the newari culture and show to disseminate to the world.

Birthday celebration: Every year there is a birthday celebration by worshiping God and Goddesses going to the temple and offering gifts of eggs, fruits, curd, cloth, money to the one who's birthday is going to be celebrate.

Rice Feeding Ceremony: This ceremony is organized when the girl child becomes 5 months of age she will be feed by organizing ceremony. And if the child is boy then this custom will be done only in six or seven month of his birth.

Baratayegu  ( This custom is only for girl child)

 After when the girl child become older up to 11/12 then the girl child will be kept Bara tayagu . In this custom she is kept in the dark room she can not go out of her room up to 12 days and could not see the faces of man and light of sun.

Kayetapuja ( This ritual is only for boy )

The exact meaning of this ritual is to worship the inner cloth of boy .The boy child head make bowl by cutting hair cleanly   the age of boy should be around 8 to 16 of age normally . In this ceremony there is various puja done by priest and go for temple in a group of family members and relative.

There are other several customs I have described the Newar's culture in short and few only. 

Beside that there are also several festival which are as follows :

Sitti Nakha : This is also very popular festival among Newars . In this festival all family gathered and cooked delicious food  and eat together . In this occasion house wife prepare Bara, Chatamari, Chwela and Tho for drink which is very sweet to drink.