Nepal Festival and Cultural Tour

Overview

Festival and culture tours in Nepal l Nepal festival tour package cost, itinerary, season information l festivals in Nepal l Culture and Festival tour in Nepal l Popular festivals in Nepal.

Nepal Festival and Cultural tour

Festivals l Culture l History l Nature and Cities

If you are explorer of unique culture, festivity, peace nature, medieval cities with palace square and ancient spiritual sites, you should consider visiting Nepal during the festival season to experience the vibrant colorful festivities and unique culture.

Nepal- a country of such rich and illustrative cultures, traditions and vibrant festivals celebrating by the country's diverse ethnic and religious communities. A festival tour in Nepal is an excellent way to immerse oneself in the country's unique cultural festivals and learn more about its people of various ethnic groups.

You can witness and participate meaningful festivals, traditional dances, taste verities of local cousin, peoples dressed up in their own customs, well colorfully decorated houses and roads River side/Ponds with loud music. In addition to the cultural festival experiences, you will explore some of historical Monument, Temples listed with UNESCO World Heritage site in the amazing cities and Wild-life safari in the nature of excellent National Park during your festival tour in Nepal.

Brief introduction about the festivals and activities during the festive time.

Tihar Festival

The festival of Lights

Tihar which also known as Deepawali is a five-day-long festival celebrated in Nepal that falls in October or November

During the festival, people decorate their homes with colorful lights, garlands/flowers, and rangoli patterns. People prepare various traditional dishes such as sel roti, special pickles, sweets, and verities of meat. Lots of you and artist group go from house to house singing traditional blessing songs playing Deusi Bhailo with music and they are offered money, sweets, and other foods which one of the most unique aspects of Tihar festival.

Each day of Tihar is celebrated to honor various gods and goddesses by worshiping. It has a different significance and is associated with the worship of different deities celebrating the bond between humans and animals, such as cows, dogs, and crows which are considered sacred during the festival.

The first day of Tihar is known as Kaag Tihar (Crow), where crows are worshiped by offering food and sweets. The second day is Kukur Tihar (Dog), where dogs are worshiped and offered special food. On the third day is Gai Puja (Cow-goddess of wealth), people decorate their homes with lights and flowers and worship the goddess of wealth (Laxmi).

The fourth day of Tihar is known as Govardhan Puja (Ox) or Maha Puja, where people perform a ritual to honor their own self and their ancestors. The final day of Tihar is Bhai (Brother) Tika with the ritual of breaking wall-nuts with lamp and encircling brothers in rings of mustard oil protects them from Yama, lord of the Netherworld. Sisters put Tika ( a mixture of rice in seven colors ) on their brothers' foreheads and garlands of marigold/makhani praying for their long life and prosperity. Not only wishing and praying for being well each other but sisters offers delicious food, dry nuts, fruit, sweets, clothe and brother offer money, ornaments, clothe etc.

Kartik Naach

Ancient Newari cultural show

Kartik Naach, is a Newar lively dance musical play celebrated annually at Kartik Dabali of Patan Durbar Square in Nepal during the month of Kartik (October or November) lasting for 27 days with 17 tales of Hindu God Vishnu. King Siddhi Narsingh Malla of the Malla dynasty started it in 1641AD. Originally lasting just two days, the performance has expanded over the years. King Narsingh Malla’s son, Shree Niwas Malla, extended it by seven days, while his grandson, Yog Narendra Malla, added another fifteen days.The performance begins with dancers adorned in colorful attire depicting various Hindu deities, including Barahi, Ganesh, Shiva, and Krishna. They are often seen wearing festoons and are accompanied by musicians, around 45 musicians and 10 assistants involved. The performance is deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of the region. A significant feature is the golden window of Patan, which is opened exclusively during the play. This window is said to have been constructed in honor of King Siddhi Narsingh Malla. While much of the music and choreography is attributed to him, it has evolved over time with minor adaptations. Thousands of Nepali people, young and old, trooped to the temple to watch the open-air presentation of the historical dance-drama to the accompaniment of folk music.

Chhath Parva

The worship of the sun god (Surya Bhagwan)

Chhath an ancient Hindu and only Vedic festival is a four-day-long festival celebrated in Nepal, which is dedicated to the worship of the sun god (Surya Bhagwan). Chhath is the third important festival in Nepal which falls in October or November. The festival is especially popular in the Terai region of east Nepal celebrated by all ages and ethnic groups background. The Chhath puja is performed to thank Surya(Sun) for sustaining life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes. The Sun, considered the god of energy and of the life force, is worshipped during the Chhath festival not only to promote well-being, prosperity, progress but also to be cured from a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and help ensure the longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and child to elders.

During the festival, people also decorate their homes with colorful lights, flowers, new paints, take holy bath in the river/ponds, fasting, abstaining from drinking water (Vratta), standing in water for long periods, and offering to the setting and rising sun aside the river and pond.

The first day of Chhath is known as Nahay Khay, where devotees take a holy bath and prepare special dishes such as kheer, chura, and sabzi.

The second day, known as Kharna, devotees observe a day-long fast and break it in the evening after offering prayers to the sun god.

The third day of Chhath is the main day of the festival, known as Sandhya Arghya, where devotees offer prayers to the setting sun. They stand in waist-deep water and offer Arghya (water, flowers, and offerings) to the sun while chanting mantras and songs. After this, they light Diyas (oil lamps) and perform Aarti (offering light) to the sun.

The fourth final day of Chhath is known as Usha Arghya, where devotees offer prayers to the rising sun. They repeat the same ritual as the previous day, but this time, they offer Arghya to the rising sun.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrival in Kathmandu

Your are received with warm welcome at the airport and transfer to hotel. Brief about the tour and settlement of payment. Late afternoon visit Kathmandu Durbar Square-a historical Royal courtyard then visit local markets decorated by festival celebration things.

Day 2 : Patan / Swoyambhu / Kartik Naach

After breakfast; start sightseeing tour of Soyambhunath stupa-a hiltop stupa white domed structure with an all seing Buddha's eye, Bungmati/Khokana and Patan Durbar Square. Late evening; enjoy a live Kartik Naach festival at Kartik Dabali of Patan Durbar Square

Day 3 : Participate and enjoy the starting major days of the Tihar festival

Tihar (The festival of lights) festival start which is your one of major focus for photography and cultural experience and enjoy live music with Deusi Bhailo and evening worship of Laxmi the god of wealth every shops, business house, office and residence.

Day 4 : Sight seeing tour of Bouddhanath / Pashupati and Bhaktapur

After breakfast start sightseeing tour of Bouddhanath-a largest Buddhist stupa, Pashupatinath-a powerful Hindu Temple Temple and Bhaktapur to experience live festival activities with music and dance performed by local Newari people.

Day 5 : Participate at Bhai Tika the final day of the Tihar festival

Participate with Nepalese family for the final brother and sister celebration ( Bhai Tika ) day and enjoy festival activities with playing music such as groups of young girls/boys singing dancing, decorating houses, roads with colourful flowers, colours and foods.

Day 6 : Drive from Kathmandu to Chitwan National Park

After breakfast, drive to Chitwan National Park for wild-life safari activities. After lunch safari activities start which nature guide explains.

Day 7 : Enjoy full day Jungle safari activities

Full day Safari activities including bird watching, elephant back safari, Tharu village tour, Elephant breeding centre, Live cultural program etc.

Day 8 : Drive from Chitwan to Janakpur

After breakfast, drive to Janakpur the city of Ram and Janaki. Enjoy the preparation of the Chhath Parva festival around the local area.

Day 9 : Visit Janaki Mandir and enjoy Chhath Parva

Visit around the city and Janaki Mandir. Late evening from 5/6 o'clock the Chhath Parva starts lasting for the whole night. You can enjoy it and take photos until you can stay.

Day 10 : Fly from Janakpur to Kathmandu

Wake up early morning and enjoy Chhath Parva which starts with worship of the sun from 4/5 am and ends at around 8 am. After breakfast, transfer to airport and fly back to Kathmandu.

Day 11 : Free day for your personal things in Kathmandu

Free day to have rest or visit some sights that you want to see or just do the souvenir shopping and get ready for the departure. Evening enjoy a cultural program with typical Nepal food.

Day 12 : Transfer to airport and fly back home

After receiving a special farewell at the hotel; transfer to airport for the onwards flight.

Trip code
Package name	Nepal Festival and Cultural Tour
Duration	12
Max. elevation	m
Level	Easy
Transportation	All private ground transportation and domestic flight as per itinerary
Accomodation	1-3*** Hotels in Kathmandu / Chitwan / Janakpur
Starts at	Kathmandu
Ends at	Kathmandu
Trip route	Kathmandu-Chitwan-Janakpur-Kathmandu
Cost	USD 2,100 per person