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 27th 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 .
