A home of nearly 30 million people, the Himalayan country Nepal is a nest of 70 ethnic groups’ diversity with their own religions, cultures, languages and life-styles but exist in harmony.
The peaceful coexistence of multi-religious systems and beliefs is unique among the cultures of the world.
As Nepal is rich in scenic nature and diverse culture, her festivals are dynamic, enthralling events. The influx of new sights and sounds are full of energy and life, and rich with genuine excitement.
Ethnic castes, festivals, social activities and traditional values are the lenses through which the culture of a country is brought into focus.
Among those, Father’s Day (Gokarna Aunsi Or Babuko Mukh Herne) which is being celebrated on Monday (September 2 this year) is one of the festivals of Nepal.
Father’s Day is an occasion to mark and celebrate the contribution that your own father has made to your life. This day is a social and family event that aims at celebrating fatherhood and honoring fathers celebrated worldwide to recognize the contribution that fathers and father figures make to the lives of their children. This day celebrates fatherhood and male parenting.
In modern days, different families have different traditions. So, on Father’s Day many people make a special effort for their fathers or father figures seeing or visiting their fathers, sons and daughters serve them delicious dishes and especially the sweets, clothing and gifts. give gifts such as clothing or food items especially sweets. Fathers in their turn bless their sons and daughters.
Although Father’s Day is celebrated worldwide, every country has their own day to observe this day.
In Nepal, this is the day consecrated to the fathers falls on the fifteenth of the dark half of the moon in the month of mid-August to mid-September (Bhadra- the Nepali calendar’s fifth month).
Father’s Day is marked on various dates across the world maintaining their own traditions of honoring fatherhood.
Father’s Day is celebrated in Argentina, Canada, France, Greece, India, Ireland, Mexico, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States and Venezuela on the third Sunday of June. As Father’s Day is observed on Sunday, public offices are closed on this day and very few organizations are open for business.
In Brazil the day is marked on the second Sunday of August. It is also observed in countries such as Australia and New Zealand on the first Sunday in September. In Thailand it is celebrated on December 5, which is the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
In Mexico Father’s Day is referred to as “Día del Padre”, where many families get together, prepare meals and distribute gifts to fathers or father figures.
In South Africa, many social and cultural societies host Father’s Day celebrations to stress the important role of fathers in nurturing children and building stronger society.
Father’s Day is not a federal holiday in most countries including Nepal. But in Thailand it is a public holiday as it falls on the same day as the late King’s Birthday.
As in the case of Mother’s Day, on this day also, sons and daughters make obeisance to their fathers. On this day, those whose fathers are no longer alive go to Gokarna — a holy river flowing northward beside the temple of Gokarneswor, about four miles away in the east from downtown where people take baths and make offerings to the priests in the name of their deceased fathers. They also perform “Shraddha”– a religious ceremony in honour of their father.
No doubt, this Fathers’ Day helps to strengthen the tie of love between the father and the children and even for those whose fathers are dead, it helps to remember their deceased fathers and express their indebtedness to them under whose fostering care they could grow up.
The day awakens veneration in us towards the troubles they have undergone in bringing us up and loves and affection bestowed on us. A father doesn’t tell you that he loves you. Instead, he shows you.
Besides, the world celebrates Father’s Day and Mother’s Day, in some countries, Siblings Day, and Grandparents’ Day are also celebrated. However, Nepal is the only country where it celebrates Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Sister-Brother’s Day, Cow Day, Dog Day, Snake Day Deceased’s Day, and various Gods and Goddesses Day.
Festivals are the lenses through which the culture of a country is brought into focus. Many festivals which Nepalese observe in their traditional way shows that Nepal is rich in its cultural heritage.
Every festival in Nepal traditionally begins with something religious and moves with spontaneous spirit into a pleasant family feast. Nepalese festivals are celebrated religious to historical aspect, agricultural to seasonal changes and legendary fun.
Above all, a festival is a social occasion, and an affirmation of the ancient and strong bonds of religion and culture. The festivals of Nepal retain their authenticity, especially in the rural areas; they are not performances put on solely for tourists, but rather are the genuine expressions of vital cultures and religions.
This is because, for Nepalese, religion has always influenced and has been the core of Nepali culture.
Festivals also offer the visitor a dramatic glimpse of Nepal’s people when they are at their happiest and most relaxed. Nepal’s wonderful cultural heritage is an invaluable resource, one which the Nepalese are striving to preserve.
Nepal’s festivals rooted in the country’s history, mythology and religion, honour and propitiate the multitude of gods, control malicious spirits, or celebrate mythological victories over evil.
Festivals in Nepal are reckoned not only as occasions to indulge in eating, drinking and making merry but also as occasions when one is to devote some of one’s time to the worship of and meditation upon gods and goddesses in different forms.
Generally festival celebrations feature common ingredients: the offering of puja, or worship, to the honoured deity, the carrying of the deity’s image in a rollicking chariot ride, and the flinging of red tika powder and coins into the air in hopes that they will bring luck by landing on the deity or the chariot.
Dazzling colourful attractions are the festivals that dot the calendar and are celebrated throughout the year in traditional style highlighting enduring customs and beliefs.
Any way it could be said that Nepal is rich in scenic nature and diverse culture, the land of heady mixture of unique cultures proudly preserved; mind boggling adventure and remarkable natural beauty where visitors revitalize their mind, body and soul amidst scenery that is simply a knockout.
Experiencing a Nepali festival could be the highlight of a visit to Nepal — the land of vivid colour, dances, thousands of gods and goddesses and the lively pleasure of festivals.
Happy Nepali Father’s Day !!!
