SEASONS IN NEPAL

Nepal is naturally a beautiful country having pleasant weather around year. It rises from 59 meter (194ft) elevation of Terai region to the Mt. Everest (8848m) of Himalayan region. Nepal is topographically divided into three regions; the Himalayan region to the north, the mountains to the middle and the Terai region to the south. Its geographical diversity has divided the seasons into spring, summer, monsoon, autumn and winter. In Nepal, seasons are classified into 6 categories 

                     Basanta Ritu(spring )

Grishma Ritu(early autumn)

Barkha Ritu (monsoon season)

Sharad Ritu (early autumn)

Hemanta Ritu (late autumn)

Shishir Ritu (winter)

Each season has its own importance and meaning to the lives of Nepalese people. Firstly, Basanta ritu (spring) occurs right after the winter. During this season, new buds and flowers blooms. The national flower Rhododendron (Laliguras) blooms and greenery of the environment. People enjoy a festive HOLI (festivals of colours) in this season.

                                 

Grishma ritu(summer season) is the hottest season of all. The temperature is very high during this period. Various types of fruits and crops are cultivated. 

 Barsha ritu(monsoon season) is a rainy season, which provide irrigation to agricultural production and many others. Roads can get muddy and traveling is difficult at this time. Farmers enjoys this season by planting the paddy. They dance, sings and play with mud. They help each other to cultivate paddy and celebrate it as festival.

Sharad ritu(autumn) is the season of festivals. The temperature goes down and farmer waits for harvest of the paddy. The biggest festival of Nepalese people Dashain and Tihar are celebrated during this season. This season is attractive, sky is clean and environment is pleasant.

Hemanta ritu (late autumn) is the season in which temperature starts to fall. The harvesting of the crops are done in this season. People celebrate small festivals. 
 

At last, Shishir ritu (winter season) is the coldest season in the year. The weather is dry and snow fall occurs in higher altitudes. People enjoys this season by creating fire.

Different seasons have different importance and are enjoyed by all the people of the country.

NEWARI CULTURE

Newar are the native inhabitants of Kathmandu valley having their own identity and significance.  Newari culture is one of the richest culture of Nepal originally located in the capital Kathmandu including Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. Newari people have got their true identity and ethnicity.  From the birth to the death, they have their own rites and rituals. It is said that, the first-born girl child in the Newari family is considered as a luck and happiness. After 4 days of a birth of a child, they celebrate a ritual called ‘BEHENKU’. And after 2 years of a birth, they celebrate a ritual called ‘NIRPHUNIHI’. During a life period, several rituals are performed like: IHI, BAHARAHA (GUFFA), LEGAL MARRIAGE, JANKU and so on.

 

Newari culture is popular all over the country. Newari culture is famous for the festive such as MHA PUJA i.e. Worshiping self-soul that takes place during a year on the month of the September/October during the national festival Tihar. This day is also known as NEW YEAR of the Newari people. Newari culture is somehow vast, different pujas, jatras, festivals, rituals, and special occasion are celebrated. It is believed that all these festivals, rituals, pujas reunite the family and communities to share the emotions and joys. Newari have different festival every month. Some of them are ‘SIDDHICHARE NAKHA’, ‘PAAHAN CHARE NAKHA’, ‘SAMEHEBAJI PUNHNE’, ‘LOCAL GODDESS JATRAS’, and many more.

Newari culture has different types of cuisine. Newari cuisine is one of the prominent and ingenuous cuisine. Mostly Newari cuisine are non-vegetarian. Newari cuisine contains the buffalo meat. Varieties of dishes are made which has got its own importance such as SAMHE BAJI, CHATAMARI, CHYYALA, and so on.  Samhe baji consists of BAJI (BETTEAN RICE), CHOELIA, BHUTI, WAMCHA(SAG), KHEHEN (EGG), NYACHA(FISH), MUCIYA, AEILA(ALCOHOL).  During the time of festival like Dashain and jatras. Samhebaji is made to worship the god and goddess with flowers and lights.

Newari culture is rich in terms of music, dance, and art. Music and songs are performed for particular seasons and festivals. The music mainly consists of madal, tabala, flutes and strings which are rarely found. It consists the bajas like DHIMHE, DAHA. These bajas has its own importance and rules.

Newari dance are of two types namely Masked Dance and dance without masked. Different types of masked dance are performed during a year. Among them ‘LAKHE DANCE’ is very famous which is performed during a year. Dance without masks is performed specifically with baja’s like Dhime baja.

Newari arts consists of different statues, sculpture and monuments made in ancient era. Newari culture has their own attire. The way of living and attire are unique. They wear HAKUPATASHI, JANGA, TAPAHA LANGHA, SAN KETYA etc. Living goddess KUMARI is worshipped in Newari culture. 

 Newari culture is being famous all over the Nepal which is loved and nourished by everyone.