Nepalese Gustures

Nodding head:
As the west, Nepalese may nod their heads up to down (vertically) to mean "yes" and they may shake their heads from side to side (horizontally) to mean "no". But in Nepal, the "yes" movement is typically slower than the "no". Moreover, a very slow side-to-side "figure 8" roll of the head is also affirmative. This last head movement is the most confusing for westerners as it is easy to mistake fro "no" or "may be".

Flapping hands: An important hand gesture for westerners to understand is the one which means "no, I don't have it or any, or no, I don't want or any". To make the gesture, the hand is held out in front of you, as if you were going to shake hands, raised a little higher and flapped back and forth quickly.

For Come & Go: Many westerners also mistake the Nepali hand signals for "come here" and "go away". Both are done with the arm extended in front of you, hand open, with the palm down for "come here" fingers and brought down and towards the chest while hand is closed as if drawing something towards to you. This can look like "Bye, Go away" wave the exact opposite what it really means. The Nepali gesture for "go away" is less confusing. In it the fingers of the extended hand are swept up and away, as if brushing something off the air in front of you.

Shaking hands: In the west, particularly the U.S., handshakes are film and brief. In Nepal, handshakes are more extended and as a gesture of sincerity the left hand may be placed on top of the person's hand you are shaking hand with. If the handshakes is too short, or if the hand is pulled away to quickly, this may be interpreted negatively, as a sign of dislike or anger.

Holding hands and embracing: Holding hands and embracing between the same sexes is very common in Nepal and expresses friendship between them. But it is not done between opposite sexes.

Eye contact: During conversation a Nepali normally do not look at the eyes of the person he is talking with. Instead he may look elsewhere, but this does not imply dishonesty or impoliteness.

Questions: Nepalese raise their hands and turn them once quickly towards the chest to indicate questions like "what, where, or when" depending upon the contexts.

Festivals & Celebrations

Prithivi Jayanti: Birthday of the builder of united Nepal King Prithivi Narayan Shaha, tenth predecessor of king Birendra. This day is also celebrated as the National Unity Day. Prithivi Narayan Shaha was born in 1722. He was a king of Gorkha from where he lunched a campaign of unifying the independent states and created a unified Nepal. It is he who said " my country is the land of flowers from all kind." And" my country is a yam between tow rocks".

Maghe Sankranti: This festival with ritual bathing day winter months marks the end of coldest. This festival sends a massage that the better days have come at last and the bad days are behind. Hindus go to the confluence of sacred rivers and take holy baths on this day. Thousands of people come to the Devghat river confluence of this purpose. Newars call this festival ghyo-chaku sanglo in which they eat special food with ghiu (refined butter), chaku (refined molasses), and tarul(yam) to add heat to the body.

Shahid dibas( martys day): on this day a procession is taken to shahid get ( Martys gate) where the statues of four Martyrs are located. Honor is given to Martyrs who were sentenced to death for their activities on behalf of democracy in Nepal during the Rana regime (before 1951). They were; Ganga Lal Pradhan, Dharma Bhakta, Shukra Raj Joshi and Dasharath Chanda. There were more martyrs but only four have been announced as martyrs by the government.

Shree Panchami/Basanta Panchami (day of goddess of learning): This day is dedicated to Saraswoti, the goddess of music and learning. She is worshipped at the Saraswoti temple west of Swyambhunath. This is day marks the beginning of the spring season. This is an important festival for students, scholars and artist who wish to be blessings from Saraswoti for the success of their ventures. It is a particularly ausipicious time for weddings as well. On the same day there is a grand ceremony held at the Hanuman Dhoka Palace in Kathmandu Durbar Square in the presence of the King

Prajatantra Dibas(democracy Day): On this day in 1951, democracy was decleared in Nepal after ousting the Rana family from power. The Rana family had ruled in Nepal for 104 years. But this multi-democratic system was short lived. The late king Mahendra(the Father of the past king Birendra) arrested all the political party leaders in 1960 and the Panchayat, a party less political system was established. Later in 1990, the king had to announce the multi party system to replace the Panchayat, under the pressure of the people's movement.

Shikshya Dibas (Education Day): On this day primary education for all children in Nepal was made free in all government schools. The schools are closed on this day.

Maha Shivaratri (meaning the night consecrated to Shiva): it is celebrated in honor of Lord Shiva. Thousands and thousands of pilgrims stream into the valley from all over Nepal and Indian arrive at the Pashupatinath temple many sadhus (saints) gather around the temple and camp in the wood making a fire. Naked Sadhus smear ashes all around their bodies. Bonfires are made in the streets. In the afternoon a function organized by the Nepal Army held in the Tundikhel (Parade ground), and so attended by the King and Queen.

Lhosar(Tibetan New Years Day): Tibetan and Sherpa people celebrate this this festival in February to welcome their Happy New Year. Singing, dancing, feasting and drinking are the festival. Ceremonies are performed at Boudhanath, Swaymbhunath, and the Tibetan refugee camp at Jawalakhel. Crowds of Tibetan and Shrepas dressed up with their traditional costumes parade the stupa with banners and portraits of the Dalai Lama.

Phagu Purnima(Holi): this festival is called the festival of colors. It is supported to be celebrating on the full moon day in the month of Falgun by throwing red powder or colored water. But young boys and girls begins few days before the moon-day to celebrate the festivals by throwing water balloons each other in the valley. However, foreigners become the target of most Nepali young boys and girls on the special day of the festival. So be prepared for the colors or colored water if you want to be in the street on that day. You better wear old clothes and protect your cameras.

Ghode Jatra (The horse Race Festival): this is the festival of the Newars of Kathmandu city called panchaare. They celebrate this festival for three days, inviting their family and friends home for feasts. Also Nepal Army organizes an event at the Tundikhel to show valor and strength and on this occasion horse races and acrobatic shows from the army take place in the parade ground ( tundikhel) and the king and queen attend the function.

Chaitra Dashain: this is relatively small Dashain in contrast to the other dashain in October but the goddesss Durga is worshipped in the same way by offering animals sacrifices. It may not necessarily be as the one in October. This is celebrated just for two days within ones family where as the other dashain is celebrated among the families, relatives and neighbors for several days.

Bisket Jatra: this is the great chariot festival of Bhaktapur's Newar community, which last for week. It is celebrated on the first day of Baishakh, beginning on the Nepali New Year. It is a welcome festival for the New Year and one of the most exciting and interesting events in the valley.

Maata tirtha Aaunsi(mothers Day): This day is also called the day of looking upon one's mother's face. Sweets and gifts are given to mothers on this day with great respect to them. Blessings are received from in return for that. Daughter likes to go to their parents' home for this opportunity no matter how far it is. Those who have lost their mothers go to Mata Tirtha pond to bath and offer ablutions there in memory of their mothers.

Buddha Jayanti(Buddhas birthday): Lord Buddha was born in Nepal (Lumbini) and his birthday is celebrated in the Kathmandu valley. It is mainly focused in and around the Swyambhnath stupa and the special celebration is orgranized there in the presence of the king. Swaymbhunath area becomes very busy on this day.

Guru Purnima(teachers Day): The full moon day of July is dedicated to the teachers as the come second ( after the gods) in the Hindu hierarchy of respect. Students pay homage to their teachers and receive their blessing from them in return. This day is sacred as the day when Buddha to be entered the womb of the Queen Maya Devi, thereby setting in motion the religious cycle of Buddhism. Religious functions are held in all Buddhist monasteries and temples to commemorate the day. Schools and government offices are closed.

Ghantakarna: This festival represents a ritual detoxification of the city, in order to banish the evil sprits utside the city. Ghanta Karna(lit. bell ears) is a demon so named because he wore bell earrings to down out name of Bishnu, his enemy. An effigy of the demon made from clumps of reeds is erected at the street intersections and dragged in the evening to the riverside and immersed in water. But in Bhaktapur the effigy is burnet in the street. In the valley the nails are hammered into the door litels in order that ghosts cannot come into the house. On this day, children beg money from pedestrians during the festival, sometimes even blocking the road with a rope stretched across it..

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