A comparative study of major festivals of

Province no 2 with mainstream national

festivals celebrated in Nepal

Name: Bishakha Koirala

Roll no: 2
Subject: Nepal Studies
University: Kathmandu University School of Arts
University Location: Hattiban, Lalitpur, Nepal
Abstract / Summary

The Nepali culture is rich with a large number of festivals that

have their own norms and values. It has been passed down from
generation to generation to celebrate such celebrations of
festivals. Due to the variety of language, culture, and ethnicity
found in Nepal, people here have their own traditions and
festivals. A total of more than 50 festivals take place in Nepal
every year. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in
such a diverse country.
All these festivals have a lot of significance that is attached to it.
From preserving our old tales and culture to worshipping natures,
some festivals are really way ahead of time and some have been
followed despite the reason behind its continuity is untimely.
In this study, we are focusing on the minor and major festivals of
Province No 2 of Nepal. We are also finding the similarities and
differences between festivals of Nepal with the mainstream
festivals.
A comparative study of major festivals of Province no 2 with

mainstream national festivals celebrated in Nepal

Introduction/ Background of study

Located in the South-East of Nepal, Province 2 is the second

largest in the country. Among the states in Nepal, it is the second
largest in terms of population (a total of 5,404,145 - Census 2011)
and the smallest in terms of area (9,661 km2). The state is
bordered by the No. 1 state in the north-east, the No. 3 state in
the north-west, and by the international border with India in the
south. The state consists of eight districts, a metropolitan city,
three sub metropolitan cities, 73 municipalities, and 59 rural
municipalities.
The proposed name for the province no 2 headquarter is
Janakpurdham. It is one of the centers for religious and cultural
tourism of Nepal. In ancient times, it was thought to have been
the capital of the Videha dynasty, which ruled the Mithila region.
According to Hindu mythology, Janakpur, located 135 kilometers
(84 miles) southeast of Kathmandu, Nepal's capital city, is the
birthplace of Sita as well as the location where she married Lord
Ram.

There are many ethnic groups, cultural practices, and socio-

economic differences within this State. There are various ethnic
groups living in this state; such as the Yadav, Teli, Brahmins,
Kayasthas, Tharus, Musahar, Rajput, Chhetri, and so on. The
state is home to indigenous and local languages including Nepali,
Maithili, Bhojpuri, as well as English.

It celebrates festivals such as Vijayadashami, Vivaha Panchami,

Dipawali, Chhath Puja, Holi and many others.
No. 2 State In Brief

East Sunsari District (No. 1 State)

West Chitwan District (No.3 State)
North Makwanpur District (No.3 State)
South Bihar, India
Area 9,661 Sq. Km.
Total Population 5,404,145
Number of District 8 (Siraha, Saptari, Dhanusha, Mahotari,
Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa)
Metropolitan City 1
Sub- Metropolitan City 3
Municipality 73
Rural Municipality 59
Objective of the study

The objective of this study is to find out the explicit details of all

the major and minor festivals that are celebrated in the eight

districts of Province no 2. Additionally, the objective is also to

compare and contrast these festivals with the mainstream

festivals that are celebrated in the country along with their history,

who celebrates it, when and how.

Methodology used in the study

The main focus area of this study is Province no 2 of Nepal. This

study is based on secondary data that are collected from various

sources. The secondary data are collected from the websites,

books and e-books, previous published articles, theses,

conference papers, case studies, magazines, and various

research reports.
Major Festival Celebrated in Province no 2 in

comparison with mainstream/national festival

Durga Puja (Dashain)

Named after Goddess Durga, Durga puja is celebrated every
year. In Nepal, the most auspicious and longest festival is the
puja, which is mainly celebrated by Hindus. The public schools
are closed for a month during the festival. However, this festival
lasts 15 days in the country as well as Province no 2. People
believe that if they pay their respects to the goddess Durga, good
fortune will follow. If people neglect her, she will become so angry
and misfortunes will follow. The goddess is the creator of all life.

Durga puja is usually celebrated over ten days. A kalash is filled

with holy water, covered in cow dung, and seeds are sown on top
of it on the first day of the festival. People bring secret purifying
soil from the river bank and plant seeds which contain grains,
wheat, and barley, maize and ‘cumin’ in the temple. Finally, the
priests cover the seed with leaves of flowers and water it every
day. Additionally, he worships twice a day, once in the morning
and once in the evening. People in some places do it the
traditional way. Some people do it in the traditional way in which
long yellow grass (Jamara) is carried, along with banana stalks,
and sugar cane is tied with red cloth and taken home, while
others do not. The transformation of traditional patterns into
modern ones can clearly be seen.

The next day is Kaal Ratri, the dark night, which is also called
Maha Astami, the eighth day of Durga puja. The following day is a
fasting day. There is belief on this day that goddess Parbati
transforms into Kali and defeats the monster Mahisasur. The
monster receives the blessing of the Lord Brahma, the father of
the earth, that he will not be killed by man. Additionally, if he
drops a drop of blood on the ground, then he will come back to
life. Consequently, he was misusing his power and creating
problems for others. Finally, with the request from the gods and
goddess, Parbati took on a kali-like form and killed the monster by
sucking his blood. At the mother goddess temples, hundreds of
goats, sheep, and buffalo are sacrificed as a symbol of
happiness. "Maha Nawami" is the next day, when mostly Hindus
including men, women, and children wake up early in the
morning, clean and mop their homes, take a shower, and keep
their surroundings clean. It is a way to invite the mother goddess
to visit the house, so that she may bless it with good fortune. We
can smell the beautiful scent of incense sticks in every house.
Many pujas are held and sacrifices of animals are made to her. In
the name of Durga, goats, buffaloes, hens, ducks, cockroaches,
and pigs are slaughtered. Many women prepare meat dishes,
sweets and other food items. A group of kids swings and enjoys
time with their friends.

A day called Maha Dashami marks the day when the yellow grass
will be five or six inches long and the red tika will be visible.
Goddess Durga also sends her blessings in the form of Jamara,
as a token of love for her. During this day, we receive the blessing
of our elders and take their tika and jamara. While our elders visit
our younger ones in their homes and offer blessings, our elders
give our younger ones tika. Dashai holds importance also
because on this day, distant family members come to visit and
receive an offering from their families. Younger people receive
tika, give money/presents and are blessed by the elders. As a
sign of respect, young people bow their heads to elders. A
celebration of victory with the blessing of the goddess marks the
end of the five days.

It is celebrated as Durga Puja in Province no 2 but it is the

national festival of country known as Dashain or, Bada Dashain. It
is celebrated in all the eight district with no or very little distinction.
Chhath
One of the biggest festivals celebrated mainly in Province 2 is
Chhath. The festival is celebrated by people of all castes. In the
past, it was celebrated mainly in the Terai region, but now it is
celebrated all over the country. We can also conclude from this
that the celebration influenced the other parts of the country as
well. Chhath festival is a four-day celebration dedicated to the
sun. It is celebrated every year, usually in the month of Kartik. It
starts after the end of Tihar.

The festival has many rules to follow, which makes it one of the
most difficult to accomplish. Accordingly, it has been observed
that when a person makes a vow and performs the puja
accordingly, his / her wishes are fulfilled. So, the festival has
united people from every caste and creed.

Chhath festival begins with Nahar Khay Din (taking a bath and
eating). By this, it is meant that devotees take baths, keep
themselves clean everywhere they go and eat. The festival begins
with all its preparations.

On the second day, Kharna (a sweet dish called Khir is offered to

goddess Chhati Mai) is celebrated. During worship, devotees
prepare Kir-chapati and offer it to god. After some time, the
offerings are shared with other family members. The khir made
this day is always tastier than other normal day’s one.

A third day of worship is Sajiya ghat (evening worship). On this

day, all the offerings prepared for the sun are taken to riverbanks,
ponds, and offered to the setting sun and then returned home.

Fourth day or last day is Bianaiya Ghat (morning worship day). At

this time, the same offerings are also taken to the Chhatt worship
spot. Diya is lit in the morning after a circle of sugarcane plants is
created.
In as much as people and devotees look forward to the sunrise,
the sun does not appear soon. Usually, it's cloudy in the morning.
Devotees then offer the sun holy water and cow's milk before
going home.

Fagu Purnima (Holi)

Fagu Purnima is one of the most popular festivals in Nepal. A
festival of colors, friendships, and love, it is commonly known as
Holi, though in Province No 2, it is known as Fagu Purnima. In
this festival, the spring season is called to life. Fagu Punima
comes from two different words, Phagu (the name of the 11th
month of Nepali month Phagun) and Purnima (full moon). Others
describe it in other ways, such as Phagu meaning red and
Purnima meaning full moon. Several myths surround this festival.

According to the lunar calendar, the ancient Hindu festival of Fagu

Purnima falls on the full moon day of the month of Falgun (late
February or early March). It is said to have been named after the
mythical demon, Holika, and it is a celebration of colors.

It is said that this festival was originally held to commemorate the

death of the demon Holika. Prahlad is Hiranyakasipu's son and
Holika is Hiranyakasipu's sister. He was proud of his power and
believed that no one was more powerful than him. The only
exception is his son Prahlad, who is devoted to the Lord Vishnu.
Seeing Hiranyakasipu wasn't pleased with his son's belief, he
asked his sister (Holika) to set it on fire. She tried several times to
kill her nephew, Prahlad, by placing him on her lap beneath the
flames, under the threat of fire. However, the boy (devotee of Lord
Vishnu) was left untouched by the fire, while Holika destroyed the
surprise. Holi began after God had defeated evil by releasing
color and water.

As a token of love, people gather and put colors on each other.

They visit their relatives and friends, singing and dancing with
colors all day long. Various cultures celebrate different dates. The
people of province 2 celebrate Holi on the next day after those of
Kathmandu and Hilly regions.
Eid
 In province no 2, Islam makes up 11.5% of the population. During
Eid, The imam (priest) leads a special prayer attended by
Muslims of all ages. Eid marks the end of Ramadan, a month-long
fasting period. Those present at the mosque participate in group
prayers known as namaz.
The followers of Islam exchange wishes after their prayers. Eid-ul-
Fitr, the most important festival for Muslims, celebrates love,
brotherhood, and harmony. As part of the Islamic lunar calendar,
it follows the holy month of Ramadan, during which devotees fast
for 29 or 30 days without consuming anything, not even water,
between sunrise and sunset. Following sunset, different meals
are prepared. Eid's celebration begins the night before the moon
is worshipped, and the moon is worshipped on Eid's last day.
On the morning of Eid, all Muslims bathe and wear new clothes.
During namaaz, men attend mosques and women pray at home.
As a part of their zakat (charity or alms), everyone contributes a
certain amount based on their earnings. Donations are made to
ensure that the festival is accessible to the poor and the needy.
Deepawali (Tihar)
Tihar, also known as Deewali or Dipawoli in province no 2 is the
Hindu festival of lights. It is the festival of five days long, take
place in Nepali month of Kartik (October to November in solar
calendar). Tihar begins with Kaag Tihar in Trayodashi of Kartik
Krishna Paksha and ends with Bhai Tika in Dwitiya of Kartik Sukla
Paksha every year.This festival shows a contribution to not just
the human and the gods, but also to the animal like cows, dogs,
crows and others that maintain a bosom relationship with
humans. During this festival, people will honour some animals like
the crow, dogs, cows as well as Laxmi, the goddess of prosperity
and blessing.
On the first day of the Tihar festival, people offer rice to the crows.
People adore it to bring good blessing in their houses. Religious
belief crow as it is regarded as the message bearer of Yamraj, the
god of death. In the morning time, people offer rice, sweats and
leave them on the roof of the house to please them and prevent
bad things from happening.
The second day is kukur (Dog) Tihar. Dogs are noted for their
loyalty and honesty. They are honoured with tilaka, a red mark on
the forehead, with delicious food and acknowledge the cherished
relationship between humans and dogs. Also, Nepalese
policemen will present beautiful garlands to the patrol dogs and
paint their foreheads in red cinnabar to thank for their
contributions in social security.
The third day is Gai (cow) Tihar and Laxmi puja. On this day,
people worship cows and goddess of wealth Laxmi. People would
get up early and clean the house thoroughly. Hence, they start to
thank the cows. After a bath, those cows will wear red Tika and
lovely garlands, with holy threads from the priest tied to their tails.
After evening when the night falls, beautiful candles, oil lamps and
bright lights are lit up at the doors, steps, even on the roof also.
All the Nepalese will make their home as shining as possible to
attract god Laximi's devotion. Same as, shops and stores won't
follow the traditional practices and keep open to welcome the
goddess of wealth.

Children’s as well as young people play Deusi and Bhailo with

light and fireworks. Deusi is song and tells the story of the festival,
with one person describing and the rest as the repetition. In
return, the owners provide them money, fruit and selroti (a round
of piece made of rice flour and sugar). Nowadays, also a social
workers, politician, a group of society visit local homes,
collaborate with each other and collect funds by singing and
dancing for welfare and social activities.

People will respect different things on the fourth day of Tihar. As

ox is an energetic helper for the farmer, people will perform Goru
Puja for ox on this day. People who follow Vaishnavism (a major
culture followed by Vishnu followers) perform Govardhan Puja.
And the last day of Tihar is Bhai tika. It is observed by sister
applying different colors of tika to the foreheads of their brother to
ensure the long life. On this day after auspicious tika, garlanded
him and fed him special dishes. Brother also follow the same
ritual to put Tika on their sisters and give them some money in
return. This celebration makes close relationship between
brothers and sisters.
During this festival, friends and relatives will get gathering and
exchange Tihar gifts and greetings with each other. Every night,
each family and stores will lit varieties of colorful lights, and the
sky is filled with mighty fireworks. The highlights of Tihar in
province no 2 that is different than the main is bathing in the holy
river to purify the body. In addition to pray to the gods for the
health of the whole family, Nepalis of province no 2 like the other
Nepalis pay special respect to Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and
blessings.

Maghe Sankranti/Maghi
Maghi, Maghe Sakranti, or Makar Sankranti, which falls mid-
January, is one of the biggest festivals of the Tharu Indigenous
communities, observed as a new year in Nepal which includes
province no 2. The indigenous groups of the Tharu also observe
this festival as a day to remember the day when they got their
freedom.

Before, Kamaiyas and Kamlaris, the slaves who worked for their
landlords, used to get a break from their daily chores on the same
day and make a new agreement with them. The government
declared all Kamaiyas free from bonded labor on July 17, 2000.
Since then, most of the Tharus in the country who were employed
in bonded labor have gained their freedom.

Maghi is one of the most important festivals in Nepal, and it is

especially important to the Tharu indigenous communities, since it
not only provides an opportunity for reflection about their past but
also serves as an occasion for planning and preparation.

The Tharu indigenous communities celebrate this festival

continuously for four days with much merrymaking.

On the previous night, they spend sleepless night dancing and

singing, throughout the night they have a campfire. Next morning,
they take a dip in the freezing water and pay homage to a self-
made Shiva idol on the riverbanks.

Tharu families in the western part of Nepal sacrifice a pig a day

before the festival starts, but Tharu living in the eastern region of
Nepal don't do this.

In addition to taking a dip in the river, they visit a temple for

paying homage, as well as visiting the elders' homes for having
wishes, as well as visiting every home to exchange their wishes
and relationships. It is a tradition to give gifts to the daughters.
Maghi is not just a festival, it is the day on which indigenous
community members of Tharu exercise their democratic rights.
On the same day, all the villagers come together and elect the
chief of their local customary organization, known by various
names, such as Badghar, Bhalmansa, Mahatanwa, Kakandar,
and others. Badghar, or Mahhatanwa, is the traditional way that
the community develops plans, policies, and strategies.
Furthermore, if a dispute arises within a community, this very
system decides the case, whether it is a civil or criminal matter.

Every family of Tharu plans and strategies for next year, including
the division of work according to age and gender. Likewise, if
there are any financial matters, they will also be taken care of on
the very same day. A family member must be present when a
selection or meeting of the chief is held. Fines are imposed by the
chief if anyone violates the rule. The practice dates back
centuries.
Minor Festival Celebrated in Province no 2 in

comparison with mainstream/national festival

Parsa District

Parsa District (Nepali: पर्सा जिल्लस), a part of Province No. 2 in Terai

plain, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The district,

with Birgunj as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,353

km2 (522 sq mi) and has a population (2001) of 497,219.

According to the locals, Parsa is named after Parsagadhi temple

situated in the district.

Location of Parsa District (dark yellow) in Province No. 2

Parsagadhi Mela

Parsagadhi mela is celebrated during Navami of Dashain. At

navami, a huge animal sacrifice (bali daan) is done at Parsagadhi.
They also conduct a huge fair (mela). Even Land Revenue
Officers and District Administration Officers pay visit. It is to honor
Ranjit Chaudhary, a Tharu who worked hard in the Nepal-British
war. As national holiday is given on Martyr's Day to honor who
sacrificed in the country, there isn't even a local holiday to honor
the local warrior who fought for the area.
Bara District

Bara District (Nepali: बसरस lies in Province No. 2. It is one of the

seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The district, with Kalaiya as its
district headquarters, covers an area of 1,190 km2 (460 sq mi)
and has a population (2011) of 687,708. Bakaiya, Jamuniya,
Pasaha, Dudhaura and Bangari are the main rivers of Bara. The
main languages spoken in Bara are Bhojpuri, Bajjika, Tharu and
Nepali.

Bara District (dark yellow) in Province No. 2

Gadhimai Mela

Gadhimai festival is a religious festival held every five years in

Nepal at the Gadhimai Temple of Bariyarpur, in Bara District,
about 160 kilometres (99 mi) south of the capital Kathmandu, and
about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) east of the city of Kalaiya, near the
Indo-Nepal border. It is primarily celebrated by Madhesi people.
The event involves large-scale sacrificial slaughter of animals,
including water buffalo,pigs, goats, chickens, and pigeons, with
the goal of pleasing Gadhimai, the goddess of power. People also
offer coconuts, sweets, red-coloured clothes, etc.The festival has
been described as the world's largest animal sacrifice event or
one of the largest. Millions of people attend the festival, which has
existed for more than two centuries. It is said that the festival
originated when feudal lord Bhagwan Chaudhary dreamed that he
could offer a blood sacrifice to the goddess Gadhimai in order to
be freed from jail.
Dhanusha District

Dhanusha District, (Nepali: धनुषस जिल्लस), a part of Province No. 2,

is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. It is situated in the
Outer Terai. The district, with Janakpur as its district headquarter,
covers an area of 1,180 km2 (460 sq mi) and has a population
(2011) of 754,777.

Dhanusha District (dark yellow) in Province No. 2

Bivah Panchami

Bivah Panchami is celebrated to mark the marriage of Lord Ram

and Sita as all the people of the Hindu world know the story of the
marriage of the Ram and the princess Sita, as told in the epic
Ramayana.

Sita's father, King Janak, offered an opportunity for potential

suitors to prove their strength: stringing Lord Shiva's great bow.
Warriors and kins came from far and wide, but none of them could
lift a bow. When Ram tried to string the bow, it broke. He lifted it
with ease and then he stuffed the bow back into the bag.
The marriage of Ram and Sita took place in Janakpur, now in
southern Nepal, and their marriage is still celebrated today. Every
year, idols of Ram and Sita are brought out in procession, and
their Hindu wedding ceremony is reenacted during a week-long
fair. It celebrates the devotion of Hindus to Ram, perhaps the
most popular of Vishnu's incarnations, and to Sita, the ideal Hindu
woman.
Saptari District

Saptari (Nepali: र्प्तरी जिल्लस ), a part of Province No. 2, is one of

the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. Its district headquarter is
Rajbiraj. Saptari is an Outer Terai district. This district covers an
area of 1,363 km2 (526 sq mi) and has a population (2011) of
639,284 which makes it the 10th most populated district of Nepal.
Saptari is renowned for its agricultural output, and is bordered on
the east by the massive Sapta Koshi river.
Ram Nawami/Chaite Dashain

Ram Navami is a day celebrated in honor and memory of Lord

Ram, who is believed to be the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Most
Nepali people celebrate this festival, visiting the nearby temple of
Lord Ram and offering flowers and other offerings. According to
Hindus, Lord Ram symbolizes "the ideal man". With his mighty
victory over evil in dire circumstances, Ravan was known as the
embodiment of good over evil. The Hindu festival of Ram Navami
is celebrated on the ninth day of the waxing moon in the month of
Chaitra. Rama's legendary stories are read and mantras are
chanted on this day in fervor. There is a large presence of
devotees in the Kankali temple every day. Devotees flock from
different parts of Nepal and India from far to pay homage to
Kankali Mai especially during Chaite Dashain ( Ram Navami).
During these festivals, devotees perform special worship for 15
days to please the Goddess. In the same way, there is also a big
fair for 15 days in Kankali Bhagwati Temple, Saptari.
Siruwa Festival

The Siruwa festival marks the start of the New Year. There are
rituals such as seeking blessings from elders, worshipping the
cooking stove, and cleaning the streets and maintaining
environmental hygiene. The festival's specialty is worshipping the
stove and painting the kitchen floor.
As part of the festival celebrated by the Maithili community, it is
believed that the kitchen should rest for at least one night per
year. Cooking takes place in the daytime and eating takes place
in the evening. Additionally, the household gods are worshipped
by offering them curd and sugar in addition to the food cooked the
day before. As an offering, ‘stale rice’ is cooked in mud.
As part of the festival, the revelers clean the streets, wells, canals,
as well as water the trees during the dry months, since the
festival's main objective is to save the environment and educate
the community. A tradition of playing with the mud also happens
during the joint cleaning of the environment, since the revelers
express their joy by hurling mud at one another. Maithili, Tharu,
Rajbanshi, and Satar communities celebrate the festival
according to their own traditions. Besides the Maithili, other ethnic
groups also eat meat on this day.

Conclusion
The Nepali culture is rich with a large number of festivals that
have their own norms and values. It has been passed down from
generation to generation to celebrate such celebrations of
festivals. Since every action has a cause, time demands
modification and practicality. However, sometimes there is no
clear reason for observing a particular festival. Even though we
practice them in the name of continuation. Despite cultural
differences and different religious beliefs, people gather to
celebrate these festivals with fervor and enthusiasm regardless of
their differences. There are numerous festivals in Nepal; however,
some are considered to be more important than others. The
problem with festivals these days is that showing off expensive
and extravagant dresses and jewelries is a sad trend nowadays.
Culture, tradition, rites, rituals, et cetera are all aspects of human
life that we adopt in the context of our society to support our
livelihood and survival. In order for our cultures to exist, we
celebrate festivals. In general, festivals can be described as
traditions that represent our glory and identity through simplicity,
understanding, cooperation, and harmony among members of our
community. Festivals have both positives and negatives. Modern
generation has, in the context of Nepal these days, made our
cultures, traditions, and festivals uncivilized rather than perfect,
despite its importance and benefits.
A good example is the Gadhimai Festival. It is once every five
years that there is a huge fair which pilgrims visit. However,
animals like buffalo, rats, and others are sacrificed in the name of
respecting Gadhimai in this festival. In this festival, over 10,000
animals are slaughtered without mercy by people who call it their
religion. For the purpose of sacrifice, animals are even imported
from other countries. This act of killing is unabated and those who
attempt to stop it are denied justice. People who follow this so-
called religion say anyone who goes against it will face Gadimai's
wrath. Unfortunately, we have to follow this tradition. It is blind
faith to kill animals under the guise of respect.
Even during Dashain, in addition to lots of joy and happiness, lots
of animals are sacrificed to Goddess Durga in order to fulfill the
wishes of individuals. This can be seen in many temples during
Nawaratri. It has been raised that the system of sacrificing
animals in the name of festivals needs to be reformed, but
unfortunately it hasn't been implemented properly.

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