Situated six miles south-east of Patan, Godavri is famous for its holy pond fed with clean and cold water by natural springs. Many people flock here every twelve years to dip into the holy pond. Nowadays, furnished with the Botanical Garden, fishing ponds and beautiful woodland and the surrounding, it has become very popular with holiday makers and people seeking pleasure in its natural beauty.
GHORA JATRA
The day following Pashacharay or the fifteenth day from the dark lunar fortnight of Chaitra, Ghora Jatra or Festival of horses is observed in Kathmandu. Competitive horse races along with motorcycle race, cycle race and gymnastic programmes are the main features of the day. The head of the government, along with dignitaries and other local and foreign dignitaries also attend the show and the prize distribution ceremony that follows. In many religious sanctuaries, children are paid special honour on that day and are fed with delicious dishes.
GHANTAKARNA
Ghantakarna popularly known as Gathamugal is a festival centred around the person Ghantakarna and is meant to degrade and insult him. This is an ancient festival of Nepal. This fascinating festival comes every year on the 14th day of dark fortnight of Shrawan (August).
One of the attractive features of this festival is the making of an effigy of Ghantakarna who is supposed to be the most cold blooded monster. As a legend goes, long time ago a monster came to the Kathmandu valley to devour people and leave the valley desert. But, before he worked out his plan he got himself killed by the people to their great relief. Ever since, Nepalese have been celebrating this day as a big festival of victory.
On this day the effigy of the monster made of reeds are set at the cross roads. Every neighbourhood has thus one of these monster effigies usually taken care by boys and girls. Younger boys are the enthusiastic participants in this particular street show. They collect Jagaat funds or a ritual toll from the passerby. Often, while doing so, they harass the passerby.
In the evening, they prepare for the funeral of Ghantakarna and thus make up the effigy accordingly. Then they tie up the effigy with a strong rope and kick it several times in disgust before dragging it to a river into which they throw it. Crowds of people join this parade holding straw lamps in their hands making it one bright and colourful evening.
It is interesting to note that after throwing away of the effigy of Gahntakarna, nobody is supposed to be hanging around in the street lest the dead monster could come back and harm them. For this fear, many elderly people never forget to bolt their doors from inside soon after they see off Ghantakarna. Women sweep the house and throw away the dust suspecting that some evil spirits might still be lingering around.
There is another interesting interpretation of this festival. It is the positive interpretation of the personality of Ghantakarna and of the festival. According to this version, Ghantakarna was a non-believer, a materialistic thinker and that he pleaded for hard work and also for up-lifting the status of the poor. His selfless motives and out of the box ideas were beyond the grasp of the people and were (not???) acceptable to them. As result, he suffered a lot and died penniless. So people raised tolls to cremate him and his opponents did all their might to denounce and degrade him even after his death. Coincidentally this day is also known as the day of witches and wizards who go to their particular deities for blessings and extra power of their designs.
One of the attractive features of this festival is the making of an effigy of Ghantakarna who is supposed to be the most cold blooded monster. As a legend goes, long time ago a monster came to the Kathmandu valley to devour people and leave the valley desert. But, before he worked out his plan he got himself killed by the people to their great relief. Ever since, Nepalese have been celebrating this day as a big festival of victory.
On this day the effigy of the monster made of reeds are set at the cross roads. Every neighbourhood has thus one of these monster effigies usually taken care by boys and girls. Younger boys are the enthusiastic participants in this particular street show. They collect Jagaat funds or a ritual toll from the passerby. Often, while doing so, they harass the passerby.
In the evening, they prepare for the funeral of Ghantakarna and thus make up the effigy accordingly. Then they tie up the effigy with a strong rope and kick it several times in disgust before dragging it to a river into which they throw it. Crowds of people join this parade holding straw lamps in their hands making it one bright and colourful evening.
It is interesting to note that after throwing away of the effigy of Gahntakarna, nobody is supposed to be hanging around in the street lest the dead monster could come back and harm them. For this fear, many elderly people never forget to bolt their doors from inside soon after they see off Ghantakarna. Women sweep the house and throw away the dust suspecting that some evil spirits might still be lingering around.
There is another interesting interpretation of this festival. It is the positive interpretation of the personality of Ghantakarna and of the festival. According to this version, Ghantakarna was a non-believer, a materialistic thinker and that he pleaded for hard work and also for up-lifting the status of the poor. His selfless motives and out of the box ideas were beyond the grasp of the people and were (not???) acceptable to them. As result, he suffered a lot and died penniless. So people raised tolls to cremate him and his opponents did all their might to denounce and degrade him even after his death. Coincidentally this day is also known as the day of witches and wizards who go to their particular deities for blessings and extra power of their designs.
GEETA
Geeta is a sacred and philosophical treatise held in great esteem by Hindus. A collection of preaching of Lord Krishna to Arjun to convince him to fight his cousins, the Kauravs, Geeta contains messages of philosophical significance of a life in battles for truths and justice without any selfish motive. It also explains why the Atma (or soul???) is imperishable, its ultimate aim being to get reunited with the Bramhah. It is also called Bhagvat Geeta.
GHATASTHAPANA
Dasain Festival starts with Ghatasthapana day. In other words, celebration of Dasain begins with ceremonial Ghastasthapa. This falls on the first day of the bright fortnight of Ashwin (September/October). Ghatasthapan literally means setting a ceremonial water jar at a certain purified place in one’s household following the instructions of the holy scriptures. The ceremonial water jar symbolizes the Shakti or energy of Devi Durga, which is worshipped during the entire period of Dasain. This would usually take place on the top floor of the Nepalese homes symbolizing detachment.
It does not necessarily mean that there won’t be anything festive to see in the streets. One of the main features of this festival is the colourful crowd of devotees thronging temples to make offerings, all dressed in their best attire. One can see them almost everywhere at the temples, along the sideways, and likewise in many other places.
Different communities have their own ways of observing this day. Newars and some other tribes make panels of sand-plates, plant seeds of auspicious flowers and cover up the sands with a huge pot. The seeds soon grow into flowers to be pluked or picked up on the eight or ninth day for use in worshipping ritual. When the seedlings are long enough to be picked, it seems to add a great colour to the festivity of Dasain. It reminds us of the beaming beauty of kumari-hood (creative energy) which makes everybody feel quite happy. The yellow-green colour of this ceremonial seeding reflects and spread over refreshing flavour to the festivity.
It does not necessarily mean that there won’t be anything festive to see in the streets. One of the main features of this festival is the colourful crowd of devotees thronging temples to make offerings, all dressed in their best attire. One can see them almost everywhere at the temples, along the sideways, and likewise in many other places.
Different communities have their own ways of observing this day. Newars and some other tribes make panels of sand-plates, plant seeds of auspicious flowers and cover up the sands with a huge pot. The seeds soon grow into flowers to be pluked or picked up on the eight or ninth day for use in worshipping ritual. When the seedlings are long enough to be picked, it seems to add a great colour to the festivity of Dasain. It reminds us of the beaming beauty of kumari-hood (creative energy) which makes everybody feel quite happy. The yellow-green colour of this ceremonial seeding reflects and spread over refreshing flavour to the festivity.
GARUDA
A man-bird – half man and half bird, Garuda is the king of birds and the vehicle of Lord Vishnu. He is the enemy of serpents. His body is golden, his face, white and wings, red.
GANESH MAN SINGH(1915-1955 )
Supreme commander of the Great Political Movement of Nepal for restoration of Democracy in the year 1990, Gamesh Man Singh was the only person in Nepalese politics to have rejected the unanimous offer to become the prime-minister of liberated Nepal and opted to remain outside government and safeguard development processes of democracy. He was a legendary Nepalese figure, known for the extraordinary courage he demonstrated during his life-long struggle for democracy, freedom of the nation and human dignity. He is considered one of the stalwarts of Nepal’s revolution against Rana Autocracy that culminated in the year 1950 by ousting the family autocracy and establishing parliamentary democracy in Nepal. He became a minister in the first ministry of democratic Nepal formed under the charismatic leadership of Bishweswar Prasad Koirala.. After Koirala, he took over the top leadership of the Nepali Congress Party and led the party during the dark days following the royal coup by King Mahendra. He finally succeeded in restoring democracy after 30 years of so called Panchayat democracy and came be regarded as the father of democracy in Nepal. He became the common and unanimously accepted leader of all parties and was addressed the Supreme Leader of Nepal. In the 60 years of his active political life, he spent 16 years in prison and 14 years in exile.
GANESH HIMAL
A sideview of the Ganesh Himal range of snow clad mountains may be seen from Kathmandu. This range stretches from a tributary of Trisuli river in the east to the upper basin of Budhi Gandaki river in the west. Distinct peaks of this range in separate groups of Himalayas are Ganesh Peak (24,299 ft.), Paldor (19,351 ft.) and Charmar (23,545 ft.).
GANESH
Ganesh is the Hindu God of wisdom and remover of obstacles. In mythology, Ganesh is the son of Shiva and Parvati. Short, fat, four-handed and an elephant headed person, he is the yellow coloured Lord of Ganas or Gana-Devatas, the attendant deities of Lord Shiva. Ganesh is a very popular deity among Nepalese who is worshipped for the success of any work, undertaking or travel etc. Shrewd and talented, Ganesh is the main character of many myths and legends. He is known by many names such a Gajanana, Heramba, Ganapati, Lambakarna, Lambodara etc. Ganesh, the elephant headed god of wisdom and success is the defender and remover of obstacles and has to be propitiated before worshipping other gods. He is one of the sons of Shiva and is also known as “Siddhi Data” or the one who bestows success for the accomplishment of any work. His elephant head has only one complete tusk, while the other is broken. It is believed that he lost it in a fight with Parsuram. It is also believed that he broke it to write the epic Mahabharata to the dictation of sage Vyasa. His elephant head is believed to be an emblem of wisdom and his mount is a mouse or Mooshika – the emblem of sagacity. Ganesh popularly known as Vinayaka as well.
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