Nepal - 'The Land of Festivals'
It is said that there are more festivals in Nepal than there are days in the year. Most Nepali festivals are celebrated at home so there is often little to see or photograph.Festivals may complicate treks, however, because government offices close and porters disappear home, occasionally leaving you at the side of the trail with your baggage.
Festivals are scheduled in accordance with the Nepali calendar and the phase of the moon, so they can vary over a period of almost a month in relation to the Western calendar. The main festivals celebrated include:
Dashain which is the longest and the most important festival of Nepal. Generally Dashain falls in late September to mid October, right after the end of the monsoon season in Nepal. It is "a day of Victory over Demons".
Tihar, also known as Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is the second most important festival of Nepal. It usually falls in October or November.
Buddha Jayanti (the celebration of the birth of Buddha) takes place in April and May and is usually celebrated in Lumbini.
Maha Shivaratri, a festival dedicated to Lord Shiva, takes place in February or March.
Mani Rimdu is celebrated by Sherpas and takes place at higher altitides.
