Bat Savitri Brata Festival of Nepal

 

 Vat Savitri Brata Festival of Nepal

Savitri Brata is observed by married Mithila women in Terai or Madhesh region of Nepal on the last day of the dark half of the month (no moon day, amabasya or ausi) of Jestha of the Hindu lunar calendar. Vat puja on Jestha Amvasya day is also called called Bat Amavasya or Savitri Amavasya Brata. The roots of Vat Savitri Vrat delve deep into Hindu mythology, drawing inspiration from the timeless tale of Savitri and Satyavan. Savitri's unwavering love and determination to bring her husband back from the clutches of death showcase the epitome of marital devotion. The rituals of Vat Savitri Vrat echo this legendary narrative, fostering a sense of connection with the rich cultural and spiritual heritage.

Vat Savitri Vrata is a ritual and custom performed by Nepali married woman for her husband’s health, well-being and long life. The day is dedicated to observing prayer for everlasting conjugal love between wife and husband and their longevity. Women wear bridal type dresses and jewellery. Some women fast for 3 days and most of them at least for a day. After breaking their fast, food, fruits, clothes and such other articles are given in charity in a bamboo basket to the Brahmins. The fast concludes with rituals performed under the sacred Vat Vriksha, emphasizing the sanctity of the Banyan tree in this celebration.

Late in the afternoon when all formalities of worships are done, woman bow respectfully to her husband and elderly people. Women worship a banyan (Bata) tree, and listens Savitri katha (story) in groups. Women offer prayer and worship in this day. People who perform Vat Savitri Puja under Vat Vriksh are said to receive the blessing of Soubhagya, or the extension of their husband's life

Women feed water to the peeple tree, sprinkle red powder (kumkum, simrik, abir) on it, Cotton threads are wrapped round Bar trees trunks and then they go seven times round and to do the parikrama. It is believed that, the seven round of parikrama tie the relationship between husband and wife for seven more lives to come. Women adore Savitri Devi during the puja and present Bhog (food offerings) to her with the utmost devotion. Just so you know, this festival is based on the epic legend of Savitri and Satyavan as narrated in the epic Mahabharata.

 

 

Sithi Nakha

 

 

Sithi Nakha

The Newa community celebrates Sithi Nakha on the sixth day of the waxing moon of Jestha (MAY/JUN) in the Bikram Sambat calendar. The word ‘Sithi’ came from the Sanskrit word “Shashthi” meaning sixth and “Nakha” which means festival. It is also prescribed to be eaten at Sithi Nakha which is the feast that marks the beginning of the rice transplantation season.

According to Sanatan mythology, it is said that the day is dedicated to Lord Kumar Kartikeya, the first son of Lord Shiva and goddess Parbati. Another name for the day is Kumar Shashthi. The festival is celebrated in honor of Kumar. Hence this day is also known as Kumar Shasthi. Many Newars also perform their Dewali Puja, the worship of the family deity, Digu Deya, during Sithi Nakha. Sithi Nakha is considered the last day for the Newar community to perform it as the festival marks the end of all festivals for the year. As the family deity is worshipped, this day also holds significance to newly married daughter-in-laws as they are welcomed into the family.

Especially Bara/Wo (Newari dish made of lentils) and Chatamari (Newari dishes made of rice flour) are use as offering for the rain baby served on this day. The food items are not just for taste. They are high in carbohydrates, protein, iron, etc. As the monsoon approaches, bodies are exposed to different types of bacteria and these types of food increase the immunity of one’s body. It is customary to worship around wells, boreholes, and ponds and to clean up before worship. Pinwheels are put on display as well tracing the movements of the wind helping make predictions for the rains to come.

Newars worship the pikhalakhu in his name, an eight-petal stone lotus set at the main entrance to every Newar house. “Pikha” means outside and “lakhu” means the rivers nearby. It is a small circle or a mandap drawn outside each household of the community. 

It is believed that the water resource should be closed for a few days after cleaning in Sithi Nakha to stabilize the water level. When water is cleaned, it is cleaned by entering inside the dug wells, ponds, and boreholes, and by doing so, the underneath wastes like mud, silt, and sediment come up to the surface of the water.

 

Buddha Jayanti

 

Buddha’s Birthday

As per the Nepal calendar, Buddha Purnima falls on the Purnima of the Baishakh month, and coincides with the first lunar eclipse of the year. Buddha jayanti is the birth day of loard gautam Buddha. Which marks the birth anniversary of Siddhartha Gautama, who later became Gautama Buddha. Buddhist and Hindu’s worship Buddha and offer many kind of food and beverages. Buddha’s original name was Sidhartha Gautam. Siddhartha gautam was born about 543BC in kapilvastu of Nepal. Sidhartha was son of King Suddhodhan Gautam and queen Maya Devi. Buddha was born in garden of sal trees (Shorea robusta), sitated in the beautiful and peaceful Lumbini zone in Rupendehi district of Nepal. Buddha was born on full moon day, his achived nirvana in the same day and left this world on the same day of Baishakh sukla Purnima. Siddhartha, the truth wasn't easy to find. He took to the life of an ascetic. In Bodh Gaya, he sat down under a tree to embark on an extended journey of meditation and decided not to rise until he found enlightenment. He meditated for 49 days straight, formulating a body of wisdom, which was ready to bring mankind a new religion. Soon after the enlightenment, Buddha preached to a small group who soon became his disciples. From then onwards, Buddha became a spiritual teacher. After years of teaching, he finally liberated himself from the cycle of rebirth and achieved salvation. Buddha spent his first 29 years in Devdaha, his maternal home; during his stay there, he visited many sacred places and monasteries around the country.

This day is celebrated as Buddha as Buddha purnima all over the world. Buddha means “Awakened One”. Gautam Buddha is also known as Shakyamuni. Two great stupas, Shyambhunath, Baudhanatha and Lumbini, were also established in honor of Lord Buddha. UNESCO has also enlisted these stupas as a World Heritage site.

On Buddha Purnima, individuals dress in white garments and give out kheer (rice pudding). As per legend, a lady named Sujata once offered Gautam Buddha kheer on his birthday and it has since become a practice. According to Buddhism, the three most important foods served to the Buddha were the final meal (discussed above), most likely mushrooms, the meal just before enlightenment, which was the milk rice served by Sujata, and the meal right after enlightenment, which was barley meal and honey items.

It is recommended to opt for a sattvic meal throughout the day. Buddha Purnima is a time to reflect on the teachings of the Buddha and to practice compassion, peace, mindfulness, and generosity. By choosing what to eat and avoid, one can maintain the sanctity of the occasion and promote spiritual growth and development.

Aama ko Mukh Herne Din

 

 

Aama ko Mukh Herne Din

Mother Day in Nepal

Mother’s Day in Nepal is also known as Mata Tirtha Aausi. We do have a day to remember and honor our mother as Mata Tirtha Aunsi on the month of Baisakh Krishna aausi. Mukh Herne means "to allow someone as our relative or give respect or to recognize the achievement of or love to someone". This is the day when we recognize and pay respect to our mother for her care and unconditional love to us, so we call this day the "Mother’s day" – “Aama ko Mukh Herne Din” (the literal meaning is “to see Mother’s face”). People pay homage to their mothers presenting her favourite food, clothing and various gifts on this day. Traditional Delicacies- The day features special dishes like kheer (rice pudding), achar (pickle), and other local cuisines that symbolize the sweetness and spice mothers bring to life.

Mother's day is not attached to a certain religion or a particular community. This occasion is observed by many communities across the nation. Mother's day in Nepal is a tradition rather than a festival of a particular group or community. Those who have already lost his/her mother remember her giving Sida Daan to pandit (Sida is holy mixture of rice grains and other pure food materials with clothes). 

Generally people around Kathmandu visit Mata Tirtha (holy place North West of Kathmandu) to perform “Sraddha” or “Pinda Daan” to their deceased mother. People in different part of the country do the ritual at home or at a river or any other holy place nearby.

According to a local legend, a young boy would take his livestock to a nearby pond to feed them. However, every time he sat down to eat, some of his food would accidentally fall into the water. One day, as he glanced at the pond, he saw a vision of his deceased mother, who had come to visit him. She could not join him for his meal but promised to visit him every year on the new moon day of the Nepali month Baisakh. Following this incident, people began visiting the pond in the hopes of connecting with their deceased mothers. Nepal has various ethnic groups, all different community and tribe have their own way of celebrating mother’s day.

They prepare foods and tasty feast to their mother. The celebration and fun of the festival depends upon the place, climate and ethnicity. However, the ultimate essence of the festival is to give love and respect to our mother.