culture of nepal

Attend a Religious Festival
Religion is the core of the Nepalese culture, and most celebrations are religious festivals. By participating in a Nepalese festival, you will experience the richness of its culture and the vivacity of its people. The biggest and most popular Nepalese festivals are Dashain and Tihar.
Dashain occurs during late September and early October each year and is the longest and most auspicious festival in the Nepalese calendar. The celebration is 15 days long and commemorates a great victory of the gods over a wicked demon. The first 9 days signify the battle between the goddess Durga and the demon; the tenth day exalts the slaying of the demon; the last 5 days are a joyous celebration of Durga's victory.
The festival is marked with feasting and, be forewarned, a great slaughter. It is a time of relaxation and prosperous celebration for the people of Nepal.
The Tihar Festival is also known as the Festival of Lights, so named for the hanging of oil lamps in homes and villages. It is a 5-day festival following Dashain and celebrates the Hindu goddess of fortune and wealth, Laxmi. It is a celebration of the relationship between brothers and sisters and the closeness of the familial bond. Life and prosperity are celebrated nationwide during this festival and the dancing, food and patriotism should not be missed. Click here for a listing of all the religious festivals in Nepal.
See a Buddha Stupa
The stupa is a religious monument originating from the simple mounds of mud and clay that covered the relics of Buddha. One of the most ancient religious monuments, Swayambhunath Stupa, can be seen in the Katmandu Valley. Historical records found at this now lofty and golden-spired stupa indicate that the original structure was a pilgrimage destination in the 5th century.
Worshippers at Swayambhunath include Hindus, Buddhists from northern Nepal and Tibet, and Buddhists from central and southern Nepal. Something amazing occurs each morning before dawn, when hundreds of pilgrims ascend the monument's 365 steps and begin a reverent and religious clockwise encircling of the stupa. Famous for the eyes of Buddha that seemingly observe the world from all 4 directions, this stupa can be visited daily and is located near our next landmark, Durbar Square.