Shivaratri Festival in Nepal

Shivaratri is a yearly Hindu festival that is celebrated in both India and Nepal. It is one of the most popular festivals in Nepal due to several reasons, including the fact that it is usually held in the second or third month of the year, which marks the end of winter and attracts fewer tourists.

As a result, visitors to the festival are more likely to be surrounded by Nepalese and Indian pilgrims, creating a unique and memorable experience. However, it is also an extremely crowded festival and may not continue in its current form for much longer.

Shiva, the God of Yogis, is the deity honored during Shivaratri. According to Hindu mythology, he is the destroyer of the world and is often depicted as blue due to drinking poison that could have destroyed the universe. Shivaratri, also known as Maha Shivaratri, celebrates Lord Shiva and is translated to mean "the great night of Shiva."

There are several beliefs surrounding the origins of this festival, including the idea that Parvati, Shiva's wife, prayed and meditated on the 13th night of the new moon to ward off any evil that may come to her husband. Additionally, it is said that Parvati asked Shiva to save the world from destruction by dedicating a night where living souls could become active again and receive his blessings.

In Nepal, discussions and rumors about Shivaratri often begin a week before the festival. This is unusual, as it is more common to wake up and find out about a festival on the same day in Nepal. During the week before Shivaratri, more Sadhus or holy men appear on the streets, having made a walking pilgrimage from Nepal, India, and around the world to visit Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Many of these Sadhus walk around naked during the festival, and some can be seen in a trance, dancing by the Ghats. They often attract a crowd and may consume hashish during this time, which is legal in Nepal. Hashish can also be found freely available in Kathmandu during Shivaratri.

However, visitors should be careful when ordering food or drinks, as some items may contain additional ingredients that some may wish to avoid. Despite this, Shivaratri remains a highly regarded festival in Nepal and is an experience not to be missed.