Culture

This year, the Gaura Festival will be celebrated on Bhadra 15, according to a press release issued today by astrologer Dilliram Joshi of Athola Panchang. The festival will begin on Bhadra 12 and conclude on Bhadra 15, with the final day marked as the main celebration. The statement reads, “Gaura Festival is our indigenous cultural celebration, observed since Vedic times to honor Goddess Parvati, daughter of the Himalayas, who attained success through her austere penance. Women devotees play the central role in this festival.” As per the announcement, on Bhadra 12, the auspicious timings are from 7:10 AM under Simha…

Nepal Tourism Board and Nepal Art Council, in collaboration with all four metropolitan cities of Kathmandu Valley, are set to jointly organize the first-ever Nepal Art and Culture Festival 2025. The announcement was made during a press conference at the board’s hall on Sunday. The festival will take place from September 26 to October 26, 2025 (Asoj 10–Asoj 20, 2082 B.S.) across Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, and Kirtipur. Highlighting the festival’s objective, Nepal Art Council Chairman Sagar Shumsher Rana said that such cultural events hold great significance not only in Nepal but also internationally. He emphasized that the initiative aims to…

The Gumlā festival, observed especially by Buddhist devotees, concluded on Sunday. The festival, which begins every year on the first day of the bright fortnight of the month of Shrawan, ended today. The festival runs from Gumlāthwa Pāru to Yenlāthwa Pāru (the 11th month in the Nepal Sambat calendar) and is celebrated with great significance by the Newar Buddhist community. Throughout the month, devotees worship the Buddha, circumambulate various stupas and monasteries, and recite the Namasaṅgīti scriptures. In particular, the Newar community of Kathmandu celebrates the festival with daily traditional musical processions to major Buddhist sites, including the Swayambhu Mahachaitya.…

The Tharu community in western Terai is celebrating the Atwari festival today with various programs. This festival is observed on the first Sunday after Kushe Aunsi and is especially marked by brothers fasting for the good fortune and longevity of their sisters. On Friday night, families prepare a special meal (dar) before beginning a day-long fast on Saturday. In the evening, they prepare bread (roti), which is first offered to deities before consumption. On Sunday morning, rice and vegetables are cooked, again offered to the deities, and then eaten. According to community leader Saraswati Chaudhary of Ghorahi Sub-metropolitan City–17, after…

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has extended best wishes to everyone on the occasion of Father’s Day (Kushe Aunsi), observed on Bhadra Krishna Aunsi. Through social media on Saturday, PM Oli paid tribute to departed fathers and expressed reverence to all living fathers, wishing happiness and well-being on this special day. He also shared that he received blessings from his father early in the morning. “My father is now 96 years old. Though his hearing has slightly weakened, he still doesn’t need glasses to read books and can walk around nearby places. We talked for a while about some memories…

From early morning today, thousands of devotees have thronged the sacred Gokarneshwar Uttar Gaya Pitri Tirtha in the northeastern part of Kathmandu to offer tarpan (water oblation), sida daan (offering of grains), and pinda daan (ritual rice balls) in memory of their deceased fathers. According to religious belief, performing these rituals at Gokarneshwar on Bhadra Krishna Aunsi (also known as Kuse Aunsi or Pitri Aunsi) helps liberate ancestors of up to twenty-one generations. For this reason, both followers of Vedic Sanatan Hinduism and Buddhism were seen crowding the temple premises from the early hours. Due to the overwhelming presence of…

The Kushe Aunsi festival, celebrated annually on the new moon day of the Nepali month of Bhadra (August–September), is being observed today by followers of the Vedic Sanatan Dharma. On this day, devotees bring home sacred Kush grass, which is used throughout the year in various religious rituals for deities and ancestors. According to scriptures, Kush grass pulled out and consecrated by Brahmins on this day can be used year-round, whereas Kush collected on other days is only valid for use on the same day. Former chairman of the Nepal Panchang Nirnayak Samiti, Prof. Dr. Ram Chandra Gautam, explained that…

All preparations have been completed for the annual mela held at Gokarneshwar Mahadev Temple in the northeastern part of the capital on Bhadra Krishna Aunsi. Observed as the day to honor fathers, those whose fathers have passed visit Gokarneshwar to perform traditional Vedic rituals such as tarpana, pindadan, and shraddha in their fathers’ names. The temple management committee reported that, as millions of devotees are expected to arrive on Saturday to pay homage to their ancestors, preparations for the mela started on Thursday. Jayaram Mahat, the committee chairperson and Ward Chair of Gokarneshwar Municipality—4, confirmed that arrangements for the day…

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The Olkhe festival is being celebrated today with much enthusiasm across Sudurpaschim Province, including the hilly district of Doti. Traditionally observed after the end of the monsoon showers, the festival marks joy and gratitude for surviving natural calamities during the rainy season. On this day, people enjoy special delicacies, play on traditional babiyo swings, and share vegetables such as gourd, cucumber, brinjal, radish, yogurt, and leafy greens with relatives. The word Olkho refers to a small gift or token of respect offered to elders, respected figures, or senior citizens. Customs such as offering inner gourd leaves and fruits, eating festive…