NEPAL POKHARA -EVENTS AND FESTIVALS

EVENTS AND FESTIVALS

DASHAIN

This is the main festival observed mainly by the Hindus to commemorate wars in which truth is victorious. It is a 10 days festival, which starts from the new moon in October.

TIHAR (DEEPAVALI)

This is a festival of lights organized to worship Laxmi, the Goddess of Wealth. Faithful animals like crows, dogs and cows and oxen are worshiped on the first 4 days.

THOTE

Thote is a Gurung Festival generally in September and March. It is very colorful and cultural. Many Gurungs assemble with their traditional dresses and traditional weapons (fake) and equipment and march-pass through the major parts of the city up to Nayabazaar.

TEEJ

This is a festival of women generally falls in September. Women observe this festival with a view to ensure a long and healthy life for their husbands, sing and dance with red costume, often making up song to articulate the problems they face at home.

GAI JATRA

It involves several teams of dancers from NEWAR COMMUNITY. There should be at least 3 nymphs and 1 clown in the shape of a cow, falls in the last of August.

HOLI

Holi is a festival of colors. On this day everyone plays with colors and some are even drenched in color water. Thakali plays Archery game on this occasion.

BHAIRAB DANCE

The Bhairab dance is specialty of Pokhara . As many as 60 characters are required for the full-scale performance. Bhairab menas a vigorous and dangerous form; it is also one of 100 incarnations of Lord Shiva. This dance is performed to safeguard a community from unforeseen disasters, diseases and natural hazards. This used to be performed in 12 years but now days it is performed in every 6 years.

LA PHEVA (BARA BARSE KUMBA MELA)

This festival is performed in every 12 years by Thakali at Khobang Marpha.

NEW YEAR POKHARA STREET FESTIVAL

The restaurants bring their shops to the street. Tourists enjoy the food, events and cultural programs during this festival. Several times for fun and entertainment like cultural parade on the street, boat race, waiter race, tug of war, beer drinking competition.

Ashar Paddy Planting Festival

Objective of the “Rice planting ceremony” is to show a glimpse of the rice planting activities. In this occasion, traditional wooden ploughs, oxen, tillers diggers and a team of women with their colorful saris are directly involved.

WORLD TOURISM DAY

It celebrates on 27^th of September and welcoming tourists.

PARAGLIDING CHAMPIONSHIP

Famous Paragliers from different countries assemble in Pokhara and participate in a championship in January of each year. In 2005, 44 participants from 14 countries took part.

PHEWA NEW YEAR FESTIVAL

This festival falls on the verge of Nepali New Year ie the mid of April. It organizes several, recreational events such as tug of war, volleyball competition. “ Jaun Hai Pokhara”, which means “ Let’s go to Pokhara”,is a massive publicity campaign. One of this campaign is Annapurna International Food festival which displays stalls preparing various cuisines of the world during Dashain to Tihar .