Sorha Shraddha is observed during the waning phase of moon in Ashoj Month (September – October). During this fortnight Hindus pay homage to their dead ancestors (Pitrs). Food and water are offered to the departed souls. Sorha Shraddha in Nepal in 2025 begins on September 8 and ends on September 21, 2025. Sorha Shraddha means 16 Shraddha and refers to the fortnight period. Sorha Shraddha is observed from purnima or full moon day to No moon day or Amavasya in Ashoj Month. Majority of Hindus does not hold auspicious functions during the period. Various different types of Shraddha are offered during the fortnight. The food offerings are prepared on the day in silver or copper vessels. They are then placed on a banana leaf. The person performing the Shraddha takes bath and wears a ring made of Kusha grass on his ring finger. Cooked rice mixed with ghee and black sesame seeds is offered to ancestors and this is known as Pinda Daan. Water is offered on the leaves during th...

Janai Purnima is the sacred thread changing ceremony observed in Nepal . Janai Purnima 2025 date is August 9. Male members of Nepali Brahmin community and Chettri community change the sacred thread worn by them known as Janai. The changing of the thread takes place after a long ceremony involving chanting of mantras. Janai Purnima is observed on the full moon day in Shravan month. A person wearing the Janai thread should have control over body, speech and mind. On the day before Janai Purnima, male members of the Brahmin and Chettri community cut their hair and do a clean shaving. A partial fast is observed on the day – non-vegetarian food is avoided and also food made from onion and garlic. The Janai Purnima is performed by a priest. Verses from holy book are chanted and the new thread is sanctified. At the end of the ceremony the thread is placed worn by all male members. On the same day, Rakshabandhan is observed in Nepal . In Nepal , Rakshabandhan Rakhi i...

Dyo Chhen is a unique form of worship place in Hinduism in Nepal. Dyo Chhen looks like a house and word also means God’s house. A secret method of worshiping Hindu gods and goddess takes place in it but is different from a Hindu temple. Aagam Dyo Chhen is one such popular place of worship in Bhaktapur, Nepal. The structure will be used by residents and there will also be designated place worship in the structure. You will find clothes hanging and other day today activities taking place just like in a house in the structure. The outward appearance of Dyo Chhen is similar to residential houses in Nepal. Tantric Goddesses, Ashta Matrikas, Ganesha and various forms of Shiva like Bhairava are worshipped in it. Sometimes it serves as the abode of a powerful personal deity, family deity (kula devata) or tutelary deity. The rituals and pujas offered in the shrine remains a mystery. It is also shared with close members of the clan. Dyo Chhen has beautiful sculptures especially of Hindu ...

Lalitpur or Patan is a famous town in Nepal. The town has numerous Hindu temples and sacred places. Famous among them is the Kumbeshwar temple and a sacred tank. The origin of the name Lalitpur is associated with the temple. A leprosy-afflicted farmer was once cutting grass in the area where the present Kumbeshwar temple is located. After a while, he felt thirsty and he pushed his staff down into the fertile soil. He chanced upon a spring nearby and he drank water from the spring. Later when he tried to remove the staff from the soil it remained immovable. He soon discovered a Shivling in the spot. He went to the spring to get water to offer on the Shivling and he chanced upon his reflection on the water. His leprosy was cured. The happy farmer walked home, he happened to pass by the King, who noted his changed appearance. He narrated about the divine incident and the discovery of the Shivling and miracle spring. The king who heard the story called the farmer Lalitha – for his ...

There are numerous temples dedicated to Bhairava in Nepal in which only the head of Bhairav is worshipped. So what is the reason for worshipping beheaded Bhairava deity? Legend has it that Bhairava, the guardian deity of Kashi or Varanasi, traveled to Bhaktapur in Nepal to witness the Bisket Jatra. A high priestess of a temple in the region recognized Bhairava and attempted to capture Him. Bhairav tried to escaping by making hole in the ground. To prevent His escape, the priestess ordered His head to be cut off where it protruded from the ground. This head was worshipped in a Bhairav temple in the region. The body returned back to Kashi or Benares. It is believed by people this region of Nepal that only body of Bhairava is worshipped in Kashi. In some stories it is Kashi Vishwanath himself who visited the jatra.

Shri Swasthani Brata Katha is a popular ritual observed in Nepal in the Magh month (January – February) during winter. The ritual is dedicated to Goddess Shree Swasthani, a Goddess known to grant wishes of her devotees, and Madhav Narayan. Swasthani Brata 2025 is from January 13 to February 12. The month long telling of the tales are dedicated to the Goddess and the stories that are mainly narrated are those of Swasthani Devi, Lord Shiva other Gods. The Brata is observed from Paush Purnima to Magh Purnima as per traditional Hindu Calendar followed in Nepal. (January - February). Goddess Shree Swasthani Goddess Shree Swasthani is usually portrayed as a four-handed deity with charka, trishul, sword and lotus in each hand sitting at the center while Ashta Matrika or eight deities of power – Mahakali, Vaishnavi, Brahmi Maheshwari, Kameshwari, Barahi, Indrayani and Chamunda painted around her. It is believed that Goddess Swasthani helped Goddess Sati overcome her trou...

Rato Machindranath Jatra is a unique festival organized at the Rato Machhendranath Temple at Patan (Lalitpur) in Nepal. This annual festival is held in July during the beginning of Summer solstice or Dakshinayana in northern hemisphere. The deity worshipped in the Rato Machhendranath temple is taken atop a chariot around the streets and is then pulled to a temple at nearby Bungamati. The deity stays here for the next six months. Machhendranath, Matsyendra or Bungadyo, is an incarnation of Shiva. He is worshipped for good rains, for no drought and for no natural calamities. This is the Matsyendra who was a 10th century Yogi who spread the teachings of Shiva in India, present day Pakistan and Nepal. The image of the deity is transported back and forth in a tall chariot, built on Pulchowk Road. The deity is paraded around the town before taken to the temple. The jatra takes place two times a year once in July and another at the start of winter solstice (December or January). The f...

Lalitpur Patan Purnachandi temple is located half a kilometer west of the famous durbar square in Patan, Nepal. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Siddhi Lakshmi, who is popularly known as Purnachandi. The murti of Goddess Purnachandi is swayambhu and was retrieved from Nekhu River, which has now disappeared. The murti is formed on a stone. The original shrine was built in 1635 CE. The current temple was built in during the 17 th century after the original temple was destroyed in fire. This is a pagoda style three-tier temple with three roofs. There is a pond near the shrine. Goddess Kamala, the Tantric form of Goddess Purnachandi, is worshipped outside the temple. This is a painted image of the Goddess. The temple has a stone pillar with a lion mounted on top of it. There are colorful wooden sculptures of various gods and goddess in the Hindu pantheon on woods supporting the roof. There are also images of various forms of Goddess Shakti on various parts of the temple. Dashain (Se...

Panauti Unmatta Bhairav temple is located at Panauti in Nepal and is located near to the famous Indreshwar Mahadev temple. The shrine is dedicated to Unmatta Bhairav form of Shiva. This is the most peaceful and most compassionate form of Bhairava, who is otherwise worshipped in his ferocious form. The murti of Unmatta Bhairava is carved in wood. There are also stone or shila murtis of Ashta Matrikas – eight mother goddesses in the main sanctum. The utsava murti Unmatta Bhairava or the one taken out during festivals and rituals can be found in the sanctum sanctorum. Built during the 16th century CE, the temple is a two-story rectangular structure with a single roof and resembles like a traditional Nepali house. There are three sculptures of Gorakhnath, the popular Shaiva Saint, on the three open windows on the upper floor. The sculptures look towards the Indreshwar Mahadev temple. The annual festival in the temple is held on Jyestha Purnima day (full moon day in June – July). The ...

Lalitpur Patan Vishwanath temple is located at Lalitpur (Patan) in Nepal. The temple is dedicated to Mahadev Shiva. The shrine is famous for its erotic sculptures. A Shivling is worshipped in the main sanctum sanctorum. The shrine was built in 1627 CE by King Narasimha of Lalitpur. Lalitpur Patan Vishwanath temple is a two-storey pagoda style temple with two roofs. There are two elephant stone sculptures at the entrance of the temple. There is a popular local legend that the king who built the temple will not enter heaven until the stone elephants descend from the temple and drink from the Mani Dhara water fountain. One of the elephants also has a person atop it.  The temple is noted for its ornate wooden pillars, windows, and doors. There are sculptures of various gods and goddesses from Hindu pantheon in different parts of the temple. There are also huge stone sculptures of lion. Shivratri is an important festival in the temple.

Lalitpur Patan Swotha Krishna temple is located at the north side of the Swotha square in Patan, Nepal. The shrine is dedicated to Bhagavan Sri Krishna and it is a dome-shaped temple. The temple is built entirely out of stone. There are lion stone sculptures and two Garuda sculptures at the entrance of the temple. There is also another Garuda image atop a pedestal. The sanctum sanctorum is locked and is not allowed for public. There are not many sculptures and intricate designs in the temple.  As per some scholars, the temple might have been a shikhara style temple and might have got destroyed during 1934 earthquake. The dome might have been built as part of the restoration process.

Lalitpur Sundhara Uma Maheshvara temple is located at Sundhara square (also known as Nugah) in eastern part of Lalitpur (Patan) in Nepal. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Parvati (Uma) and Shiva (Maheshvara). Sundhara Uma Maheshvara temple is a three-storey shrine and the sanctum sanctorum also has murtis of Ganesha and Skanda (Kartik or Muruga). The shrine was built in 1675 CE. The main sanctum is located at the middle of the temple on the ground floor and is accessible only to Hindu devotees. It is a shikhara style temple as seen in North India. Two lion sculptures in stone guard the entrance of the temple. The temple is less ornate and has lesser sculptures considering the other famous temples in Patan. Construction materials include stone and brick. The temple observes Shivratri and Dashain.

Panauti Indreshwar Mahadev temple is located at Panauti in Nepal. This is a very important temple in the area and is dedicated to Shiva. The temple plays a key role in the Jatara ceremony which also involves three other temples in the town. Legend says that Indra, the king of demigods, seduced Ahalya, the wife of the sage Gautama. It is said that Ahalya was cursed by the sage converted into a stone, which is now at the north eastern corner of the temple’s platform. It is also believed that Shiva protected Indra here after he repented and performed penance for sin redemption. The incident is mentioned in the Ramayana. It is one the oldest and largest wooden temples in Nepal. The original temple is believed to have been built during 1294 CE. It took nearly a century to complete the temple. The temple underwent a series of renovation especially during the 16th century CE, 18th century and during 1990s. The huge temple has a three-tier roof. The temple is dotted with sculptures of Shiv...

Lalitpur Patan Rato Machhendranath temple is located at Patan in Nepal. The shrine is dedicated to Machhendranath or Matsyendra) – a 10th century Hindu saint who was a direct disciple of Mahadev Shiva. Some people worship him as an incarnation of Shiva. He is worshipped for rains and good harvest. The temple was built in 1673 CE. The temple celebrates the famous Rato Machindranath Jatra. The murti worshipped in the temple is only kept for six months here. It is kept from August to December in another temple. The temple is noted for its architecture. The shrine is a three-storied pagoda style temple with three roofs. The entire temple is filled with various kinds of sculptures including that of gods and goddess and animals. There are also huge stone figurines on the premises of the temple complex. Several metal figurines are housed in small hanging protective cages outside the shrine. The shrine is also noted for metal art work. The chariot used for the annual jatra is can be seen i...

Nala Bhagwati temple is located at Nala Ugrachandi in Nepal. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Bhagawati, a popular name of Mahishasura Mardini Durga in this region. This is a four-tiered pagoda temple. The murti of Bhagawati worshipped here is one among the four Bhagawati murtis found in various temples in Nepal. The original murti of Goddess Bhagwati was beautiful but now it has undergone numerous changes due to pujas and other rituals. The murti is carved in stone or shila. The temple has rest houses on either side. There are also beautiful stone and wooden sculptures. The shrine is also a rare surviving four-tiered temple. There is also a fountain which used to serve the water needs of the area adjacent to the temple. There is a beautiful Ganesha murti within the temple complex. There is a belief that the murti of Nala Bhagwati sweats indicating an upcoming disaster. The annual festival in the temple is known as Nala Jatra. Special festivals are held in the shrine on Bhadr...

Lalitpur Patan Narayana temple is located at the Durbar square in Patan, Nepal. There are two Narayana temples here and the other one is the more famous Char Narayan temple. The shrine is dedicated to Narasimha Avatar of Bhagwan Vishnu. The pagoda style shrine was built in 1652 CE and it is a two-storey structure with two roofs. The main murti worshipped in the temple is that of Narasingha – half-man half-lion form of Vishnu. The murti worshipped in the temple is the ferocious form of Narasimha and it is never taken out. Entry to the sanctum sanctorum is also restricted. The temple is noted for its sculptures especially that of Vishnu bhagavan atop Garuda. The temple has beautiful ornate wooden doors and windows. There are also beautiful sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses.

Lalitpur Patan Narasingha temple is located at the durbar square in Patan, Nepal. The temple is dedicated to the Narasimha avatar of Bhagwan Vishnu. The shrine was built in 1589 CE. This is a shikhara style temple. The temple is constructed out of brick and there are huge lion sculptures at the entrance of the shrine. There are also other stone sculptures. The main sanctum has an ornate door. Devotees are not allowed inside. There is a standing stone murti of Bhagwan Narasimha. It is believed that a Shivling is also present in the sanctum. There are Shiva Shakti temples in the temple. Shivratri and Narasimha Chaturdashi are important days in the temple.

Patan Lalitpur Bhimsen temple is located at the Durbar Square in Patan, Nepal. It is one of the major shrines in the Mangal Palace square and is dedicated to Bhimasena, one of the five Pandava brothers in the Mahabharata. The Newar community worships him as the god of trade. Lalitpur is sometimes referred to as Patan. The murti of Bhimsen is one that is annihilating the demons. The demons here symbolically represent various vices in a human being including lust, jealousy and avarice. Making profits without violating the rules and regulations of business is the principle behind the deity worship. The mount of Bhimsen, lion, is seen atop a pillar in front of the temple. The exact origin of the temple is unknown but it was renovated in 1682 CE. The shrine was destroyed during the earthquakes of 1934, 1967 and 2015. The temple was rebuilt using the salvaged materials after the earthquake. This is a three-tire temple and the main deity of Bhimasena is worshipped in the first floor. Th...

Patan Lalitpur Kumbeshwar temple is located at Patan in Nepal. The temple is dedicated to Shiva who is worshipped here as Kumbheshwar. Also known as Kumbhesvara, the temple was built in 1392 CE. The temple is a rare five-tiered pagoda style temple. The deity is also referred to as Sraveshvar. The temple is built around a natural spring and Kumbha or pot is associated with fertility and abundance. It is believed that Chandra, the moon good, and Sage Agastya had installed the Shivling here. As per a popular story, Chandra was cursed by Shiva for his immoral behavior. For sin redemption he consecrated the Shivling here. Yet another story is that of a farmer with leprosy accidently finding the Shivling and drinking from a spring near it. The farmer was cured of his leprosy. The famous Kumbeshwar tank or pond is located near the temple. Thousands of devotees take a holy in the tank during auspicious occasion especially during the Purnima or full moon day in Shravan month (July – August)...

Kirtipur Bagh Bhairab temple is located at Kirtipur in Nepal. The shrine is dedicated to the rare tiger form of Bhairava form of Mahadev Shiva. A small clay murti of tiger is worshipped in the shrine without a tongue. The murti is remade once in 15 years – when the old turns fragile due to abhishekam, rituals and pujas. The origin of the temple is traced back to the 3rd century CE. The three-storied shrine has numerous small shrines in the ground floor. Several gods and goddess are worshipped in these small shrines. The shrine faces east. A small hole in the east wall of the temple, known as a dyo pvah, allows a single ray of sunlight to glance upon the face of the deity each day. Kirtipur Bagh Bhairab Temple Story It is said that a group of shepherd girls who were grazing their sheep made a sculpture of tiger using clay. They did not have a red color leaf for the tongue of the tiger. So they went in search for a red color poinsettia leaf. When the shepherd girls retur...