Darjeeling Local Customs

4 more images

november-

Tihar or diwali is the festival of lights celebrated by hindus all aver however the nepali diwali is a bit different it is a customery to adorn our doors and windows with marigold garlends.People come to know weather a family is celebrating the festival or not as sometime when some family members passes away we do not celebrate any festivals for one year of the persons death, this applies to paternal family members.
It is celebrated for five days.(will write in detail later) The festival begins with Kag (Crow) Tihar when Crows are given good food as they are considered as the messenger of the Lord of Death, Yama. The next day is Kukur (Dog) Tihar. This day the dog is given good food as it is considered the guardian of Yama.

The next day is Laxmi (Goddess of wealth) puja or Gai (Cow,
symbolises Laxmi) Tihar when the Goddess of Wealth and Cow are worshipped along with money and jewellery. On this day it is customary to gamble. In the evening young girls go from house to house singing Bhaileni (special songs of Tihar) and they are offered money and food. Nepalis celebrate this day with lights and firecrackers in the evening.

The next day is Govardhan puja, when the bull is worshipped. On this day boys go from house to house singing Deusee (singing special hymns to spread the message of Dasain), they are offered money and food.

The next day is Bhai Tika, when brothers go to their sister's house. There the sisters put a special tika on the forehead and garland them with a garland made of thread and marigold wishing them long life. Sisters offer them special food and brothers give them money and gifts. This is a day of merry making for the Nepalis.

june -Ashar ko Pandra (15th day of Nepali month Asar) is a special day for Nepalis to eat curd and chewra (beaten rice). They say that goddess Parbati had given Lord Shiva curd and chewra on this day, so if you take the same this day, you get salvation.

August-On the same full moon day is Hindu's Raksha Bandhan (Thread of Protection) - this day is celebrated by Nepali Hindus as Raksha Bandhan and the priests go to different house and bind a thread on the right hand as a mark of Protection that the Gods will give for another year. WE also tie the sacred thread to our brothers wrist for their protection and goodwill.

AS there are a mix of people living in darjeeling,lots of festivities all year thru...losar is one of the important festivals for the tibetan people.
Tibetan celebrate Losar (Tibetan New Year), this is the most important festival in the Tibetan calendar. They celebrate this for about a week with good food like specially cooked momos, new clothes and dances. This restival is around february around the same time in feb or march we celebrate Saraswati puja or Shri Panchami , Hindus of Darjeeling worship the goddess of knowledge Saraswati and the next day they take the idol singing and dancing to immerse in the nearest stream. This is an important day in the Nepalese calendar as this day is meant for a new beginning like a new account, sowing of seeds, etc.
March-
Around March Muslims of Darjeeling celebrate Id-ul Zuha remembering Allah's prophet Ibrahim. On this day Muslims in Darjeeling like other Indian Muslims eat mutton. In India this festival is also known as Bakr (Goat) Id.

April-Buddha Jayanti, birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, is celebrated with procession from Buddhist monasteries with Lamas (Tibetan Monks) musical troupe followed by Lord Buddha's idol, and the procession usually carries the Buddhist holy books around town.

At our walk from the bazaar to the botanical garden, walking at narrow roads between the houses, we heard drumming an saw an old woman strewing rice on leaves. The people told us, that this is part of a wedding ceremony. A few minutes later we saw the bride and the bridegroom, coming from their homes under a umbrella accompanied by family, going to the place of the ceremony.

Near the botanical garden we met this woman together with her colleague.
After the washing comes the drying.
So she has a huge amount of clothes to dry, all very colorful.

Walking from the Bazaar to the botanical garden we met this woman, washing a huge amount of clothes.
She liked it we photographed her.