Himalaya, also known as Himal in short, literally means the abode of snow. The majestic snow-capped peaks of northern Nepal are seen as ranges of white mountains. The towering cliffs, enormous glaciers, deep gorges and innumerable spurs are all parts and parcels of the Himalayas. The 500 mile-long map of Nepal is virtually walled on the northern borders by the mighty Himalayan ranges or the Hiamlayas. These Himalayan ranges are grouped as follows: (1) Kanchanjunga Himal (2) Kumbhakarna Himal (3) Khumbu Himal (4) Rolwaling Himal (5) Jugal Himal (6) Langtang Himal (7) Gorkha Himal (8) Ganesh Himal (9) Annapurna Himal (10) Dhaulagiri Himal (11) Kanjiroba Himal (12) Saipal Himal and (13) Vyas Rishi Himal .
HARITALIKA
Haritalika is the combination of two different words which literally means ‘to be taken away by one’s girl friend. Teej or Haritalika is befittingly also regarded as a big day for women to meeting their fellow female friends and have happy get-together festivities. It is interesting to note that women on this particular day usually move around in sizeable groups, enjoying the day, singing and visiting temples. In addition to this, the interesting custom of sending nicely prepared food items their friends and relatives on this day also remind us of the warm feelings and love goddess Parvati had had for her girl friends.
One important aspects of this festival is that of fasting in the name of Lord Shiva. According to Bhavishyettar Purana, those who fast on this day are sure to gain the good grace of God. Particularly, unmarried Hindu girls are advised to fast on this day and worship Lord Shiva and his wife Parbati sincerely so that they may assured to get husbands of their choice. This is one of the reasons why Nepalese women, all dressed in their best attire, go around Shiva temples on this day.
Yet another interesting aspect of this festival is to keep feeding one-self throughout the day so as to prepare for the fasting on the proceeding day. On the following day the fasting women spend most of their time singing and going round the temples without any noticeable sign of fatigue. The second day of the festival is the day for breaking the fasting. It comes with the beginning of another ceremonial worship of Lord Ganesh, the elephant-headed God of good luck. Worshipping Lord Ganesh on this day is to ensure fulfillment of all wishes believed to have been earned by the fasting women on the previous day.
HARISHAYANI
The eleventh day of the bright fortnight in the month of Ashad (July) is regarded as the day when Lord Vishnu takes rest or rather sleeps after the day’s work. An entire year of the mortal world is equivalent to one full day and night of Lord Vishnu. The period of four months to follow being the retiring time of Lord Vishnu, people feel unsafe and therefore they go to the Lord and pray and worship.
HARIBODHINI
Haribodhini, the day Hari (Vishnu) wakes from his sleep is a day of relief and rejoicing for Hindus. They worship the Lord and many people also fast that day. The whole year of ours is considered as a day of Lord Vishnu and his sleeping time starts form the day of Harisayni. Hairbodhini falls on the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of Kartik (around October) .
HANUMAN DHOKA
Attached with the long-standing history, this place of the ancient kings of Nepal is known far and wide through the country. An interesting feature of Hanuman Dhoka is the Taleju Temple built by king Mahensra Malla. A gigantic figure of Kal Bhairab, or the God of Terror, Nautalle Durbar (nine storied palace), coronation platform, the Hall of Public Audience, Statue of King Pratap Malla with his four sons on the lotus capital of a tall stone monolith, the big bell, the big drums and many other pagoda style temples, all made in different times and bearing historic significance are considered worth seeing.
HANUMAN
The Monkey God and the chief of the army of monkeys, Hanuman is also known for his lifelong bachelorhood. In the Ramayana, he helped Rama to defeat the demon king Ravana and to bring back his stolen wife Sita from Lanka (Ceylon). He could convert himself into a creature of any size, small or extremely huge. As mythology has it, he had leapt from the present Indian subcontinent to the island of Sri Lanka.
Hanuman is often found in pictures with Sita and Ram. His statues are also found in many places of Nepal. In Nepal, his images are usually covered with a thick Vermillion mixed with mustard oil and often dressed in red cloth with red or golden umbrella over his head. Being symbolic to courage, loyalty and bravery, he is especially venerated by princes and warriors.
GURUNG
The main Gurung settlements are in the Gandaki Zone of Nepal where the Gurun way of life and culture is preserved in the clean environs of villages and their typical houses and huts. Gurungs are of two classes – Char Jatey and Sorha Jatey. As famous warriors, they get recruited in en mass in Nepalese and also foreign armies, specially the Indian and British. Simple and smart, Gurungs are, therefore, well-to-do people in Nepalese villages. Though Buddhist by faith, many of them have also been influenced by Hindu culture. Women exercise much freedom in Gurung society. Rodighar, the entertainment house of the Gurungs where mostly unmarried young men and women sing and dance at night very much resemble modern night clubs. Cattle breeding and weaving of woollen shawls and blankets are the traditional professions of Gurungs.
Major habitats of Gurungs are the districts of Kaski, Lamjung, Gorkha, Syangja, Manang and Tanahu in the Gandaki Zone while they are also scattered in Okhaldhunga, Sankhuwasabha and Taplejung in East Nepal. Animal husbandry is the main occupation. They speak languages related to the Mongolian-Khmer and Tibeto-Burman lineages. Gurungs do have a long history rooted in the ancient ages. Ghaley is the respectful term used to address their high ruling class clan. Gurungs are predominantly Buddhist. Their institutions and rituals like the famous Lhosar festival, Rodi Ghar and Rodi dance have high esteem in the Nepalese culture. They practice cremation as well as burial when someone is dead. Gurungs call themselves Tamu. Their languages have no script of their own and they use the Devnagari script.
GUNPOONI
Gunpooni or virtuous full moon day, also known as Rishi Poornima, or the full moon day of the sages, falls in the month of Shravan (around August). On this day, Bramhins and people of other castes bearing the holy threads around their necks (known as Janai), take a bath in a holy river and change the thread. The priests also go to their acquaintances and relatives and bind protective holy threads termed as Raksha Bandhan round the wrists of their acquaintances. A special mixed soup called “Kwanti” made of various cereals, beans and peas is served on this occasion.
A remarkable feature of this festival is the exhibition of the Buddhas and Taras and other deities, ancient paintings and tapestries, various objects of historic significance, books written in ink of gold and many other items as such in various Buddhist Viharas and monasteries.
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