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Mani Rimdu
Mani Rimdu is a Sherpa
festival celebrated during the fall
at Tengboche Monstery in the Everest
region. For five days, Lamas and
Sherpas gather for "the good of the
world." There are plays, masked
dances, prayers, and feastings.
Demons are quelled and the pious
rewarded. The days are colorful and
trips to the Everest region are very
rewarding indeed if they can be
organized during the days of the
festival.
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Tihar
Tihar, known as the Festival
of Lights, is a time of candlelight,
tinsel decorations and festive
colored sweets. On different days,
there are offerings and small
celebrations for crows, dogs, cows
and oxen. On the night of Lakshmi
Puja, garlands are hung and lamps
are lighted to invite Lakshmi, the
goddess of wealth, into the home.
Mha Puja, the New Year's Day
according to the Nepal Era, is the
day of the self, when people give
themselves blessings to remain
healthy and happy for the rest of
the year. 13hai Tika, the last day
of Tihar, is the day when sisters
make offerings to their brothers.
The rituals of breaking a walnut,
putting on garlands of makhamali
flowers and encircling brothers in
rings of mustard oil protects them
from Yama, lord of the Netherworld.
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