Major Festivals

Festivals in Nepal are colourful and joyous events where people from all walks of life join in to celebrate the occasion. Nepal is made up of 131 different ethnic groups having their own languages, customs and traditions. As majority of the Nepalese are Hindus, the country’s major festivals are mostly dedicated to Hindu deities.  Dashain, Tihar, Holi, Buddha Jayanti etc. are some of the major festivals celebrated all over Nepal.

 

The Bhutanese are known to use the Gross National Happiness Index to measure their country’s prosperity. For the Bhutanese, inner happiness and contentment matter more than material wealth or power. In a country that aims at increasing ‘happiness and contentment’ it is but obvious to find the people celebrating life throughout the year. Festivals in Bhutan are lively and vibrant, and an extension of the people’s long standing Buddhist beliefs. As Bhutanese are devout Buddhists most of the festivals are celebrated in monasteries. One can witness colourful masked dances, skits, traditional songs and dances during these festivals.  Some of the important Bhutanese festivals are Punakha Drubchen Festival, Paro Tshechu, Thimphu Tshechu, Do Chula Druk Wangyal Festival etc. 

 

Like in Bhutan, festivals in Tibet are an extension of the Tibetans’ Buddhist faith and age old traditions. Based on the lunar calendar, these festivals offer a chance for families and communities to get together and celebrate. For a tourist, these vibrant and colourful festivals offer an insight into the Tibetans rich culture.