• Kuber Chalise
  

Saraswati maya dristwa Vina Pustak Dharani,
Hansa Wahan Samyukta Vidya-danam Karo tu me,

“I saw the Mother Goddess- Saraswati, who rides on swan, has four arms; representing Manas- the mind, Buddhi- the intellect, Chitta- consciousness and Ahankara- the ego. She holds Vina – her favourate musical instrument, a book and a rosary. She is the embodiment of pure knowledge.
Oh Mother! Please bestow me the knowledge and wisdom.”

According to the Lunar calendar, Magh sukla panchami, the fifth day of the bright half of Magh, is celebrated as the Saraswati Puja by all the Hindus the world over.

Who is Goddess Sawarawati?

Purush or Parabrahma the eternal male factor and Prakriti – the universal feminine energy has created this Universe- the Brahmanda. To help the male benevolent factor in the process of creation, preservation and destruction – the Prakriti incarnated herself in three forms –Mahasaraswati, Mahalaxmi and Mahakali. Among them the first form Mahasaraswati, the omnipresence and omnipotence, is the symbol of creation, knowledge, music and fine- arts. She is the supreme reality and symbolises supreme knowledge. Thus Saraswati is the Goddess of learning, knowledge, wisdom the consciousness.

The day marks the change in season also; the spring – Basant starts from this day. From this day onwards the days are longer. All the creatures suffering from the cold in winter slowly crawl outside in the warmth of spring sun. The winter stricken trees sprout new leaves and the nature is once again lively.

According to the Bhabisya Purana - an ancient Hindu scripture, in ancient times this day was also celebrated as Basanta-Utsav by worshipping Kamadev and his consort Rati- the divine couple created by Brahma – the creator, to inspire all the living beings for creation. But once Kamdev tried to seduce Lord Shiva, the Lord of all Lords and the Lord being angry destroyed his body. Thenceforth Kamdev and Rati inspire all the beings incorporeally in Basant – spring season.

The aristocrat ladies used to celebrate Basant-Utsav by worshipping –the statue of Kamdev and Rati as Nritya-Gosthi and Pan-Gosthi, –throwing colours and scents, singing songs and dancing. The modern society has lost the charm of those ancient Madanotsav, Kaumudi-Mahotsav and Salabhanjhi-Mahotsav.

In Kathmandu , Saraswati Puja had more significance because this day, the famous Basantapur Durbar was inaugurated and in the courtyard, Nasalchowk, the King used to audition the special Basant Shrawan ceremony. The tradition existed till last year. The King used to oversee a ceremony in Nasal Chowk, in the presence of the royal courtiers, bureaucrats and the Nepal army. The royal priest recites the selected verses from the Sanskrit Book Geet-Govinda-Kabya written by a Sanskrit poet Jayadev in Basant Raag, describing the Raslila between Lord Krishna and his Gopinis. Then the court’s musicians sing hymns. This day onwards Basant Raag can be heard in every ward of Kathmandu .

The students on this day visit different Saraswati temples in the valley. The Saraswati temple at Swayambhu, Nil Saraswati at Lazimpat and Lele Saraswati in Lalitpur are the most famous temples students visit on this day in Kathmandu .

The Buddhists in Kathmandu celebrate this day as the day of arrival of Maha Manjushree in Kathamandu. Hindus worship the Saraswati of Boudhanath and the Saraswsati of Swayambhu as Goddess Saraswati and the Buddhists worship the same idol as Mahamanjushree, a typical religious harmony found only in Nepal among the Hindus and the Buddhists. Thus Saraswati Puja also symbolises the deep-rooted unity in diversity of Nepalese culture.

The government has announced a public holiday today, for the first time in the country’s history, to celebrate one of the greatest festivals of the Gurung community.

The Gurung communities across the country are celebrating the Lhosar with great fervor. Gurungs are found mainly in the districts such as Kaski, Lamjung, Mustang, Manang, Gorkha, Parbat and Syangja. They are also found in various parts of the country and in India.
The Gurung have their own language, which is called ‘Tamukwi’, which belongs to the Khamer Tibeto-Burman language group.

Id-ul-Zuha was celebrated on December 28.
The festival commemorates the spirit of supreme sacrifice of Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim. The selfless sacrifice is an inspiring example of subordinating self-interest to the greater good of humanity. Such festival of sacrifice would strengthen cultural bonds and usher in joy and prosperity for all.

Id-ul-Zuha, being is celebrated on Friday, commemorating the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim, who willingly agreed to kill his son at the behest of god.
This festival coincides with the Haj pilgrimage in Makkah.

The music plays important role in the  whole dance process. The musical instruments are Khie, Jhyali and Ponga.

Sama Chakewa idols are made of clay and the festival is also regarded as the medium to exhibit the art of sculpting of the Maithil women.

The sun represented the power of justice in the Sumerian civilisation. But in Nepal especially in the Terai region, the sixth day of bright half of Kartik, Kartik Sukla Sasthi is celebrated as Chhat worshipping sun.

In some parts of India and even in plains of Nepal people worship sun as a god and fast for the health of one’s son.
The mother’s observing fast offer Argha, water to the sun wishing for the healthy life for the child. The worship takes place at the bank of river or the pond. Pond or the river represents the water element and the sun represents the fire element. The philosophy behind this seems is to balance the fire element and the water element for the life.
The songs and dances are the part of Hindu rituals and Chhat is no exception to that. The women enjoy the ritual with different songs while keeping vigil throughout the night on the sixth day.
On the seventh day devotees throng the riverbank, worship and offer Argha to the sun before the sunrise. These two days are the most important days of the six-day celebration of Chhat. With the changing time, most of the people celebrate only these two days.
Devotees offer bananas, sugar cane, Dhekuwa, a sweet made of flour and is hard and Kasar, a sweet like small balls made of flour to the sun god.
The Greeks myths have called Sun helious. The ancient drawing depicting sun can be seen in the altamira cave of northern Spain and in the Lasko cave of southern France . Not only in Europe but also in Karnatak the tradition of sun worshipping existed.
In the beginnig sun was the only god and friend of the human civilisations. But scientifically also, the sun represents creation.
According to the Veda, Shambha, a son of Lord Shree Krishna started the worshipping of sun. He called the Maga, an ancient tribal Brahmins of the Sakadwip, island and told them to worship the sun for their prosperity.
The significance of the festival can be acknowledged by the fact that it is the only festival also celebrated by Muslim communities in the region.
Similarly, the devotees are also seen celebrating Chhath in the major river banks and at the Ranipokhari in Kathmandu .
The devotees also observe a day-long fast. This festival is considered a symbol of cleanliness, devotion and cordial relationship and goodwill among people.
According to other scripture, the celebration is believed to have begun from the time of Dwapar Yuga (era), when the five Pandavs, while in exile in the forests, had worshipped the sun, asking for victory in the Mahabharat war.
Singing folk and devotional songs and offering prayers to the sun god also marks the day. The third day is especially significant for married women as they observe a two-day fast and offer prayers while keeping almost three-quarters of their body immersed in water for two hours.
The fourth day of the festival is called Paran or Parwan. The first day of the festival is called Arba Arbain or Nahan Khan. The second day is called the Kharana (meaning the reduction of sin).

Teej, observed by Hindu women folk, is celebrated on the third day of the waxing moon of Bhadra, Hasta Nachhatra, according to the lunar calendar.

Women in red attire, red bangles and red tika on the forehead are seen visiting the various Shiva temples in their locality. The most popular among them is the Pashupati Nath temple.

Hindu scriptures has it that those married women who fast on this day will be blessed for their husband’s longevity, good health and the strong marital bond where as unmarried will find suitable husband. According to Purana, Hindu scripture, Goddess Parvita fasted and kept vigil throughout this night and worshipped the Lord to have him as her husband and she was blessed accordingly.

Thenceforth, the celebration of Teej started. Nepali women due to the geographical inaccessibility in past times could not visit their parents frequently. Thus, this is a day for the marrieds in year when they visit their parents and reunite with their other siblings and friends. The reunion is marked with songs and dances.

The night before Teej is widely known as Dar khane Din in local term. The womenfolk prepare various delicacies and eat the whole night because on the Teej day they won’t take a morsel. The legend has it that on this day one who fast should not drink a drop of water either. But with changing times such unpractical traditions are changing slowly. Singing and dancing ladies then visit Shiva temples in their localities in groups.

Kathmanduites specially visit Pashupatinath temple on this day. Teej or Haritalika, is considered a necessary ritual in Hindu society, especially Shaibaities (women) must observe this. There is no such obligation for the sick, old and pregnant. If a wife cannot fast and worship the Lord then the husband has to do so, the Hindu scriptures say. Our traditions are falsified in the passing of times and given wrong interpretation by some pundits. Thus today they may seem discriminatory. But accoeding to the Hindu scriptures, men and women share equal responsibility in a family.

The fourth day of Bhadra is called Ganesh Chauthi. According to the Skanda Puran, on this day Lord Ganesh was born. “Those, men and women, who fast and worship Lord Ganesh on this day are blessed with the uninterrupted from all the chaos of life.”

The fifth day is called Rishi Panchami. On the Rishi panchami day women folk pay homage to the Sapta Rishis - the seven sagas.

Hindus celebrate the new moon day of Bhadra as Father’s Day in the honour of living as well as deceased fathers. Vedic philosophy has long idolised father, mother and teacher as living deity.

Mother — Prakriti is the universal icon for feminine energy and father —Purusha is the eternal male principle.

The day is also celebrated for the holy grass Kush — important for every Hindu ritual. On this day Brahmin priests distribute Kush . So the day is also observed as Kushe Aunsi.

Hindu rituals are considered incomplete without Kush grass, state the scriptures. Only on this day Brahmins distribute Kush as on the other days it is prohibited to do so.  The family priests in return get Dakshin — fees and Sida — some grains

The origin of Kush is related to a demon King, Jalandar who defeated the Gods to rule over the whole universe. Brinda, his faithful wife was the source of his strength and it was because of her he was undefeatable. Lord Vishnu laid a trick for Brinda to defeat Jalandhar. She, when found that Vishnu cheated her cursed him to become a stone, a tree, a grass and shrub. Thus Saligram - a holy stone, Pipal - a holy tree, Kush - a holy grass and Tulsi - a holy shrub is considered as Lord Vishnu and worshipped. On Father’s day, Babuko Mukh Herne Din, as it is literally known in Nepali, children offer their father sweets and present to show their gratitude.

Those who have lost their father pay tribute to the deceased on this Aunshi -the new moon by taking holy bath in the Bagmati River and performing purification rites at Gokarneshwor Mahadav, a shrine near Kathmandu, on the banks of river Bagmati.

Nepal Mahatmya describes Gokarneshwor Mahadav as one of the shrine of Lord Mahadev. Nepal Mahatmya also states that once when Lord Shiva was bored in Kailash – his holy abode in the Himalayas , he wanted to roam around freely.  He came to Mrigasthali in Shleshmantak Ban – a forest near Pashupatinath Temple. There he started to enjoy his life freely as a deer.

For a long time, when Gods could not find the Lord, they were worried and started his search. Brahma, Vishnu and Indra were sent to search for the Lord by the gods.

The Gods after searching the whole universe came to the Shlesmantak Ban where to there surprise they saw the Lord enjoying his freedom as a deer.

They prayed to the Lord and asked to return to Kailash. But the Lord, who was in no mood to return, did not pay any attention to them. So, they decided to catch the Lord – the deer and caught his horn. All of a sudden the Lord disappeared and only the three broken pieces of his deer horn remained in their hand.

Lord Shiva then told them to establish those three pieces of horn in his remembrance: in three places. Indra installed his piece in Swarge — the heaven, Lord Vishnu in Patal — the lower planets and Lord Brahma in Martya — the earth at Gokarna as Gokarneshwor Mahadav.

The people till today visit this temple, where according to the scriptures, once Ravana also prayed the almighty and pleased him.

Gokarneshwor Mahadav is one of the oldest and historical temple of Nepal.