Festivals of Muslims of Nepal

Nepal is the Federal Democratic Republic, situated in the Himalayas and between India and China in the south Asian region of the world. Nepal is a small developing country with a land area of about 147,516 km² but rich with a multi-lingual, multicultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious peace-loving and harmonious society. The population of Nepal currently seats at around 28.09 million people. The population composition of Nepal includes people from 125 different distinct ethnic groups. Each and every one of these groups has its own culture and way of life, each group has its own unique festivals to celebrate with rooted meaning and significance. The culture of Nepal is expressed through different dances and music, art and craft, folklore, languages, and literature, foods and drinks, philosophy and religion, festivals, and celebrations. Besides cultural festivals, Nepal also has different religions with their own important festivals, Majority of Nepalese are Hindus to be exact about 81.34% followed by Buddhists 9.04%, and Nepalese society and its festivals is deeply rooted with Hinduism and Buddhism, and major festival in different ethnicity in Nepal are also linked to Hinduism and Buddhism, other religions include Muslim 4.38%, Kirant 3.04%, other 2.2% (2011 census). This diversity means Nepal is full of Festivals.

Now festivals in Nepalese society. Majors festival in Nepal includes Dashain and Tihar, Christmas, Eid al-Fitr, Budha Jayanti, Gai Jatra, Janai Purnima, Teej, Shree Krishna Janmashtami, Fagun Purnima, Maghe Sankranti, Lhosar, Chhath, Sakela/sakewa and many more.

Dashain and Tihar

Dashain festival symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Accordingly to Hindu mythology, the demon Mahishasura had created terror in the devaloka (the world where gods live) but goddess Durga killed the demon Mahishasura and this symbolizes the victory of good over evil. The first nine days of Dashain symbolize the battle which took place between the different manifestations of Durga and Mahishasura. The tenth day of Dashain is the day when Durga finally defeated him. Nepal historically is an agricultural country so Dashain also symbolizes agricultural importance in the lives of Nepalese. the Dashain festival also symbolizes the victory of Lord Ram over Ravan as mentioned in the story of Ramayana. Dashain is celebrated by receiving tika and blessing from the hands of elders and relatives and Dashain is celebrated with the preparation of different special food and enjoyed by the gathering of family members.

Tihar is the festival of light, in tihar people light up homes with candles, oil-wick lamps, and electric lights. Tihar is associated with the God of death Yama, and the goddess of wealth Laxmi. Tihar is celebrated for 5 days worshipping crow, dog, cow, and goddess Laxmi. The fifth day of tihar is Brothers’ Day when sisters put tika on their brothers’ foreheads and give blessings.

Christmas

Christmas is a festival celebrated on December 25 to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ the founder of Christianity, Christians around Nepal, and even non-Christians in Nepal celebrate Christmas.

Buddha Jayanti

Buddha Jayanti is the celebration of the birth of lord buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Buddha’s Enlightenment and death are celebrated on the full-moon day of Baisaakh on the Nepalese calendar at all Buddhist monasteries and stupa, but most visibly in the capital city of Kathmandu at Swayambhunath, where the monasteries and stupa are decorated with thousands of lights and ritual dances are performed by Lamas or priests dressed as the five aspects of Buddhahood ( Vairocana, Aksobhya, Ratnasambhava, Amitābha, and Amoghasiddhi).

Eid al-Fitr

Muslims of Nepal mainly celebrate the Eid al-Fitr festival, it's one of the most important Islamic festivals. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated for one to three days, marking the end of the Ramadan period, in which there is month-long fasting done by Muslims. The date of the festival is set every year according to the Islamic calendar. On this day the Islamic community offers prayers and calls for unity among all.

KUL PUJA (Dewali)

Kul puja is a form of Shamanism (“Shamanism is a religious practice that involves a practitioner, a shaman, who is believed to interact with a spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as trance. The goal of this is usually to direct these spirits or spiritual energies into the physical world, for healing or some other purpose.” Singh, 2018). Many communities in Nepal have their own form of shamanistic rituals, Chettri Community in Nepal particularly performs kula puja with great importance, this kul puja is named Dewali. The Chettri of Nepal is believed to be the descendants of the great Khasa war tribe of Aryan origin, who happened to be Shamanist by nature. Later after migrating to Nepal, they adopted Hinduism, which also gave them a higher position in the caste hierarchy. Even after adopting the Hindu religion, they adhere to their traditional practices of ancestor worship. This practice of Dewali marks a cultural identity of the Chettri community which is still rigidly followed in many parts of Nepal. Dewali is practiced after every three years, specifically on the day of Purnima, as the day is regarded as sacred according to Hindu mythology. Diwali includes the sacrifice of an uncastrated goat, sheep, and a female goat is the primary and main feature of the ceremony. The sacrifice is made to the kul (ancestral household deity), also known as Masta/ Masto. Masto is known by different names in the different clans as Adhi Masto, Rumal Masto, Darhe Masto, Kappa Masto, Thedhi Masto, Mandali Masto, Dhudhe Masto, Ladhe Masto, Mundda Masto, Rudra Masto, Kaile Masto, and Kala Masto. There is no structure or image of it, therefore Diyo is seen as its representative of kul.

Sakela/sakewa

The festival of Sakela/sakewa is celebrated by members of the Kirat community. The Kirat community today consists of the Limbu people, Rai, Lepcha, Sunuwar, and Yakkha. They have two main festivals: Sakela/Sakewa Ubhauli during the planting season and Sakela/Sakewa Udhauli during the time of harvest. Uhaul is celebrated in the month of Mangsir (November / December), the Kirats celebrate the Udhauli festival to express their gratitude towards nature for delivering a good harvest to them. The Ubhauli festival, another main festival for the Kirat community falls on the full moon day of Baisakh. It is believed that this festival marks the start of the agricultural season and the beginning of summer.

Teej

Teej festival is celebrated by Married and unmarried women in Nepalese society. Women take fasting on the occasion of Teej, married women take this fasting for long life and good health of their husband while unmarried in hope of a good husband. During the fasting, women dance and sing, and celebrate the entire day. Fasting Women finally break their fasting by celebrating with fruit and food.