Bokeh Effect of light .

Bokeh Effect of light .

Festival and culture of Nepal.

Kukur Tihar#Tihar, also known as Deepawali and Yamapanchak, is a five-day-long Hindu festival celebrated primarily in Nepal and some parts of India such as Darjeeling district, Kalimpong district, Sikkim, and Assam. It is the festival of lights, as diyas are lit inside and outside the houses to illuminate at night.#explorenepal #visitnepal #wownepal #travelnepal#nepalnow #nepalisbeautiful #amazingnepal #nepaltravel #nepal8thwonder#instanepal#dktm#himalayas #mountain #annapurna#everestbasecamp#Visitnepal2020#discovernepal#yourshotphotographer#dslrofficial#mobile_photography#Prime_Optiqx#maestro_i#ProPixZ#u_p_g#

A gimples of Khokhana Festivals,Local people from Khokana village compete to grab a goat which was thrown into a pond for sacrifice during the Deopokhari festival in Lalitpur, Nepal

 Nepal Goes Ahead With Mass Animal Killings Despite Protests

sacrificed buffalo head in ritual hindu religious Joge chakra puja (to people who die for their soul they make sacrifice for peace, every year at Kirtipur)Nepal.

Crowd gathers as Nepalese people burn straw effigy of mythical demon Ghanta Karna as celebrations for his death during the Hindu festival of Gathe Mangal in Dattatreya Square, Bhaktapur, Nepal on Monday, August 1, 16. It is believed according to myths that by burning the demon rid evil spirits.

 
Nepalese devotees celebrate ‘Gathemangal’ festival by burning effigy of demon Ghanta Karna during the Ghanta Karna 'Gathemangal' festival celebrated in Bhaktapur, Nepal, August 1, 2016. Ghanta Karna is a festival celebrating the defeat of the mythical demon Ghanta Karna 'Gathemangal'.

A guthi sansthan member displaying the black jewel-studded bhoto of Rato Machhendranath to the public from the chariot of the deity, in Lalitpur on Friday 29th.As part of the Rato Machhindranath jatra in Lalitpur the ceremony of showing 'Bhoto' is celebrate at the end of month long festival in Jawalakhel. The chariot of the Rato machhindranath is taken to jawalakhel from thati tole of lagankhal often the ceremony of throwing a coconut. The bhoto is shown thrice to the public in the presence of the living goddess kumari. The ceremony is also attended by the head of the state.

Buddha’s Birthday celebrations at Boudhanath Nepal (Buddha Purnima)

Buddha was born in Lumbini Nepal circa 563 BC give or take a hundred years depending on the historian you listen to. His birthday (Buddha Purnima) takes place over a month-long celebration based on a solar calendar. Generally speaking though it’s sometime in May.
I’m quite late in writing about it as to be honest I filed away the photographs and never got through processing them until backing them up the other day. My priority is always about backing things up to protect them. In this case I protected them so well I archived them before publishing!
Better late than ever join me in an evening of celebration in Boudhanath Kathmandu where I dragged some Nepalese friends along to witness one of Nepals great candle lit festivals.

An event of coconut throwing from the zenith of the chariot. The person who catches the said coconut offers it to the Rato Machhindranath and is said to be blessed with a baby boy and will have an auspicious year ahead.

 The idol of Rato Machindranath, known as a god of rain, is placed inside the newly renovated chariot as Hindu and Buddhist devotees celebrate the festival of Rato Machindranath in Patan, Nepal on May 19, 2016. The festival takes place each May, but was delayed this year after a devastating earthquake damaged the chariot that devotees pull through the area in the hope of securing a good harvest. ©Jimmy Pramod Malakar

The rains always enthuse new life into trees, animals and human beings amid scorching heat. This is why human beings have worshipped rain gods across cultures.
The tradition shows how human existence is deeply linked to the cycle of rain. One such ritual is conducted in Nepal every year before the onset of the rains.
Machindranath is believed to be the deity of the rain in Nepal and Rato Machindranath is among the country's oldest customs.
The 600-year-old festival is popular equally among Hindus and Buddhists. Rato Machhindranath Jatra, also known as Bungadyo in the Newari language, is a prayer offered for good rain in Lalitpur district.

Thousands from across the country gather for the festival, in which idols are mounted on a chariot and then devotees drag it to seek the blessings of a good monsoon.

The Chariot Pulling Festival of Rato Macchendranath Festival .The Chariot Pulling Festival of Rato Macchendranath Festival .

Pachali Bhairav religious ritual dance during 12 year/Festival (Gathu Pyakhan) at Kirtipur, Which is celebrated once every 12 years in different places of Kirtipur, Kathmandu and Patan. It is known as "Barha Barse Shree Bagh Bhairab Jatra" in local Nepali language.

Joge chakra puja (to people who dei for their soul they make sacrifice every year at Kirtipur)

Pachali Bhairav religious ritual dance during 12 year/Festival (Gathu Pyakhan) at Kirtipur, Which is celebrated once every 12 years in different places of Kirtipur, Kathmandu and Patan. It is known as "Barha Barse Shree Bagh Bhairab Jatra" in local Nepali language.

Devotees from the Newari community wearing colorful caps carry chariots as they participate in the Chariot ...Paanchare Festival at ason.

Devotees carry the Chariot of Goddess Tudaldevi into the Gahana Pokhari (literally translated to Jewellery

Devotees  the chariot of Seto Macchindranath, the God of Rain, on the frist day of procession in Kathmandu, Thursday.2016/4/14

Long Exposure view of devotees offering butter lamp at the chariot of Seto Macchendranath chariot,

On the occasion of Nepalese New Year, Nepalese devotees covered in vermilion powder, carrying Idol Chariot and beating tradition drums and other instruments during Sindoor Jatra/festival in Thimi, Bhaktapur, Nepal, April 14, 2016. Sindoor Jatra/Festival is the festival of colors specially Vermilion Powder.

Ritual Chariot wheels of Bhairava.
Bisket Jatra is the annual celebration of two of the most important deities of the town of Bhaktapur, the wrathful god Bhairab and the goddess Bhadrakali.

Devotees from the Newari community wearing colorful caps carry chariots as they participate in the Chariot ...Paanchare Festival at ason.

                    A man holds the head of a goat as it is slaughtered at a sacrificial ceremony during the Dashain festival in Kathmandu, on October 23, 2015. Hindus in Nepal sacrifice animals during the festival as part of commemorative events held throughout the country, to worship Goddess Durga and celebrate the victory over evil.
                   

Devotees from Newar community celebrating Pahchare Festival.

Devotees carrying chariot for the celebration of Pahchare Festival at Ason, Kathmandu, Nepal .During the festival, devotees celebrated three chariots of goddess Kankeshwori, Bhadrakali and Sankata. People from the Newar community celebrated by bringing chariots of Kankeshwori, Bhadrakali, and Sankata together at Ason wearing different colored caps on the second day of the Ghodejatra festival 

Nepalese devotees pull the chariot of Seto Machindranath during the chariot festival along the streets in Kathmandu, Nepal on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. Seto Machindranath is a Deity worshiped by the Hindus and Buddhists for rainfall and good harvest.

A Nepalese priest offering milk towards Nag or Snake God during Nag Panchami or Snake Day Festival celebrated at Naxal, Kathmandu

According to the lunar calendar this festival Gaijatra falls in the dark fortnight (Bhadra Krishna pakchhya -August) the next day of the Janaipurnima festival. This festival is observed grandly in Katmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan cities. People decorate the cow and small children like a joking cartoon and walk throughout the city in small groups. It's believed that if this festival is celebrated in this way with the help of cow, the deceased persons' soul who has died during the year, will get chance soon to rest in the heaven; and he will bless us a lot of good luck from there. Cow is respected like our own progenitor mother in the Hindu religion. After our death there are many horrible places for us to cross to reach in the heaven. If we are sinful we fall in the peep kunda (Pus' pond) where all the rubbishes like the snizzles, urine latrine and so many other stench stinking things consist there. Scriptures say if we have done sin in our life we can't get out of this horrible place to reach in the heaven; so if we worship to cow on this day in this manner, immediately our dead relatives will get way to cross this stench emanating ugly place if they have fallen there; and get way to go in the heaven. Also, there is the vast sea called Baitarani to cross to reach the heaven; which we can cross only by the help of the cow. If we are sinful we can't cross this place without the help of the cow; so people decorate cows in the name of their deceased relatives' and pray to god for their quick arrival in the heaven. People who doesn't have cow they decorate children in the name of their past souls. Gai Jatra FestivalsAlso in Nepal this day is famous as a humor satirical day as well. The newspapers publish many mocking cartoons and statements denoting mostly to the political figures of the country. Comedians organize ticket shows and demonstrate farcical and funny skits in theatres. Another aspect of this Gaijatra is prevailed to say as a proverb in our society. That is, if some thing is seen unplanned and messy in our house then the people say "Don't show Gaijatra" means don't keep any thing unplanned in the house or yourself. The demonstration of cartoon children lasts for a week in the valley. Also some elderly persons say on this festival that, once King Jagat Prakash Malla's queen had become very seriously sad for the cause of her son's death. So the King ordered to demonstrate some farcical cartoons to appease the queen; and the people started to show such kind of parodies for the queen's amusement as per the king's order. But it seems more religious valued to this fete than the king's for this festival's celebration.

Gai Jatra( Cow )Festival celebrating at Bhaktapur .panning shot .

 The immersion of the idols mark the ends of the ten day long Dashami 2017

Devotees prepare to immerse idols of  Bhagavati God in the chovar river once evening 2017

 Nepalese Hindu devotees offering ritual prayer before holy Bath in Hanumante River during Madhav Narayan Festival or Swasthani Brata Katha festival at Bhaktapur, Nepal. Nepalese Hindu women observe a fast and pray to Goddess Swasthani for Long life of their husbands and family prosperity during a month-long fasting festival celebration.

 A Slow shutter circular panning shows devotees enjoying the celebration of Pahchare Chariot Festival at Ason, Kathmandu, Nepal.

 Devotees from Newar community celebrating Pahchare Festival.
Devotees carrying chariot for the celebration of Pahchare Festival at Ason, Kathmandu, Nepal .During the festival, devotees celebrated three chariots of goddess Kankeshwori, Bhadrakali and Sankata. People from the Newar community celebrated by bringing chariots of Kankeshwori, Bhadrakali, and Sankata together at Ason wearing different colored caps on the second day of the Ghodejatra festival.

Khokana Jatra (Sikali Jatra)
At a time the Dashain festival has gripped the country, local residents of Khokana, a rural village located around 10 km on the outskirts of Kathmandu Valley, are busy celebrating a five-day long Sikali Jatra. The Jatra, also celebrated as an alternative to Dashain by the traditional Newari community in Khokana from the day of Ghatasthapana.

This practice of celebrating Sikali Jatra dates back to 336 Nepal Sambat during the reign of the then king Amar Malla and is believed to prevent from any unwanted and unfortunate incidences affecting the life of locals and the locality. During the five-day celebration, goddess Rudrayani and other deities are worshipped along with three he-buffalo are sacrificed along with dances and offerings at a local Sidhi Temple in Bhakha of Khokana. On the final day of the festival, a local dressed as Goddess Rudrayani comes out to battle against the devils.

While the locals seem busy celebrating the annual festival in Khokona, some feel that the practice of sacrificing animals such as buffaloes and ducks as a part of the local tradition is the dark side of the festival.

 Nepalese Devotees celebrates the festival by splashing water towards sacrificial buffalo at Bramayani Temple, Bhaktapur, Nepal on the occasion of Biggest Dashain Festival on October, 2018. Dashain is the most auspicious and biggest celebrated festival in Nepal, which reflects age old traditions and the devotion of the Nepalese towards Goddess Durga.

 Nepalese army personnels fire cannons during Fulpati, seventh day of Biggest Hindu festival Dashain Celebrated at Tudhikhel Ground,
Kathmandu, Nepal on Saturday, October 2018. Dashain is a national festival of the country which reflects age old traditions and the
devotion of the Nepalese towards Goddess Durga.