BAISAKH

Baisakh is the first month according to Bikram Sambat or the Era based calendar which is the official calendar of Nepal. The first day of this month is celebrated as the New Year’s Day in Nepal and is also an official holiday. This month begins by the middle of April. See months of Nepal.

BAHAL

The Bahal (also Bahaa) are Nepal’s traditional Buddhist Monastery or Vihar. These days, there are hundreds of monasteries representing various schools of Buddhism in and around Kathmandu valley. But going back to the days of yore, there were mainly two kinds of monasteries known as Bahaa and Bahi. By outlook and activities therein, the Bahals look more important, attractive and active. Most of those monasteries replete with works of arts in view of the metal images and idols, wood carvings and other types of art works like paintings and construction works. There are nearly 300 Bahals, Bahi’s and traditional monastries in the towns and villages of the Kathmandu valley.   

BAGMATI ZONE

Area: 3665 square miles. Population: One of the 14 Zones of Nepal, this zone is the most developed and densely populated one. Kathmandu, the Capital of the country lies in this zone. Surrounded by Tibet to the north, Narayani zone to its South, the Janapur zone on the east and the Gandaki zone on its west, the Bagmati zone lies in the mountainous region, with snow-clad mountains on its north. Ganesh Himal and Langtang Himal are the main Himalayan ranges of the zone. Trisuli, Indravari, Bagmati, Bhote Khola, Sunkosi etc. are its main rivers where as Gosainkunda, Katwal daha, Bhairav Kind are among the prominent lakes of this zone. The transport facilities in Bagmati Zone are the best when compared to the other zones of Nepal. This zone is also rich in natural resources such as lead, mica, copper, and zinc besides marble, gold, graphite, gas, oil, coal, limestone, iron ore etc. apart from its hydroelectric power potential and various forest products (Eg. herbs, timber, drugs). There are eight districts in this zone namely, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kabhre, Sindhupalchowk, Dhading, Nuwakot and Rasuwa.

BAGMATI RIVER

This is the main river system of Kathmandu Valley running through the middle parts or the heart of Katmandu and Lalitpur cities. A famous and historic river, Bagmati is considered a holy river where devotees gather on several occasions and festivals and touch it or sprinkle its holy waters on their bodies. Devotees also dip themselves into the holy waters of Bagmati. Many Hindu devotees bathe at its various points for fulfilling their wishes on auspicious days and religious occasions. At one point, it passes through the holy shrines of Lord Pashupatinath.

BAGLUNG

This is one of the prominent districts of  the Dhaulagiri zone of western Nepal. Baglung bazar is the headquarters of this district which is also an important thoroughfare of several neighbouring districts of western Nepal such as Parbat, Myagdi and Mustang. Population of this district is approximately 268937.

DEVI MAHATMYA

According to Devi Mahatmya, the text manifesting the greatness of goddess Durga, Aadi Shakti or the original source of power has manifested herself in three different forms such as Mahakali, Mahalaxmi, and Mahasaraswoti. These forms are said to symbolize three basic qualities of Shakti, such as Tamasic, Rajasic and Satwic respectively, meaning destructive, preservative and creative powers. Kali, Laxmi and Saraswati are the female consorts of Shiva, Vishnu and Bramha respectively, and these goddesses are always inseparable from their respective Lords or spouses. As a matter of fact, they are all one, though in different forms. It is interesting to note that Hindu philosophy always strives(???) for diversity in unity. However, diversity is never accepted as diverse entities but only as the means to reach perfect unity, so to say, the ultimate reality. Also see Dasain.

BADA DASAIN

Dasain (also called Dusshera) occupies a place of eminence among the various Hindu festivals. It is even regarded as the most important of all Hindu festivals. Therefore, It is also popularly known as Bada Dasain, (bada meaning big) given the greatness of the occasion for the entire Hindu community. The beginning of this festival is marked by the ceremonial setting of holy water jars in Nepalese homes on the first day of the bright fortnight of Ashwin (around the months of October). The ceremonial water jar, locally known as Kalasha, symbolizes the worship of Devi Durga. The entire chain of celebration of Dasain last ten days which is the reason why this festival is given the name ‘Dasain’ (Dus is the count for ten). However, this celebration picks up the real ceremonial airs only from the eighth day that lasts until the tenth day, also known as Vijaya Dashami Day or the victory day (Vijaya meaning victory). One of the fascinating features of the festival is the animal sacrifice. The day set for the animal sacrifice is the Mahastami, which is the eighth day of the celebrations. Thousands of animals are sacrificed on this day. The point of time prescribed for animal sacrifice in the holy scriptures is the mid-night of Mahastami which is termed as  Maha Kaal Ratri, literally, the great dark night. Sacrificing so many animals to different gods and goddesses for the celebration of Dasain may sound very strange and primitive, but the myths that form the backdrop of this practice are interesting to study and brood over.

AWADHI

 Indo-Aryan dialect spoken by approximately 400,000 people in Western Nepal (or two per cent of Nepal) living in the districts of Kapilbastu of Lumbini zone, and Banke and Bardiya districts of Bheri zone. There are several alternative names of this language because of their diverse geographical locations and social contacts as well as its multiple and diverse dialects and communication systems.

AVALOKITESWAR

Avalokiteswar is a popular and widely worshipped deity in Nepal as the God providing reprieve, he is believed to be available whenever his devotees want his help. In other words, he is like a God on call who is always quick to come to help. In-spite of being a God from the Buddhist pantheon, it is interesting to note that he is popular not only among the Buddhists but among the Hindus as well. The countless number of his statues scattered in and around the Kathmandu Valley demonstrate his popularity. This deity is said to have 108 different forms. Some of the most widely worshipped Awalokiteswaras are Adinath Avalokiteswar, Bungan Avalokiteswar, (Rato Machhendra), Seto Padmanpani Avalokiteswar.

One reasons for his popularity is the concept of Karuna, meaning compassion. Introduced under Mahayana Buddhism, this theory of Karuna is an effective wonder drug that heals the worries of the depressed. He is generally regarded as the most public service-minded god who is said to have fully dedicated himself to the tremendous task of liberating the suffering souls of the world. (Also see Adinath Lokeswar.)

ATMA

The Sanskrit word for Soul. In Hinduism, Atma or soul is the real entity (of the person), manifested in the form of life and that the physical existence is simply the visible person or a kind of external cover to it. As it has originated from Bramhah or the eternity, the Atma never perishes. What we know or perceive as death is simply the end of the body or the visible form or cover of the Atma. The ultimate aim of each and every Atma is to get united with the Bramhah or the eternity itself which is attained by practicing one or the other methods prescribed in multiple religious texts, tenets, treatises and schools of Hindu philosophy, in all cases, by keeping the Atma unaffected, untouched or immune to worldly desires, motives and emotions of all kinds.