Editing Kathmandu (section)

=== Festivals ===

[[File:Indra jatra 01.jpg|thumb|Former President of Nepal [[Ram Baran Yadav]] observing the street festival of [[Yenya]], which literally means "festival of Kathmandu"|alt=|left]]
[[File:Samyak fest.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Samyak]], a Buddhist festival during which statues of Buddhas from the ancient monasteries are displayed together. Note the statue of [[Hanuman]] next to the Buddhas in the picture, a common example of religious harmony in Kathmandu.|alt=]]

Most of the fairs and festivals in Kathmandu originated in the Malla period or earlier. Traditionally, these festivals were celebrated by Newars. In recent years, these festivals have found wider participation from other Kathmanduites as well. As the capital of the Nepal, various national festivals are celebrated in Kathmandu. With mass migration to the city, the cultures of Khas from the west, [[Kirati people|Kirats]] from the east, Bon/Tibetan from the north, and Mithila from the south meet in the capital and mingle harmoniously. The festivities such as the Ghode (horse) Jatra, [[Indra Jatra]], Dashain [[Durga Puja]] festivals, [[Shivratri]] and many more are observed by all Hindu and Buddhist communities of Kathmandu with devotional fervor and enthusiasm. Social regulation in the codes enacted incorporates Hindu traditions and ethics. These were followed by the Shah kings and previous kings, as devout Hindus and protectors of the Buddhist religion.

[[File:Nepalese lakhe dancer.jpg|thumb|Nepali Lakhe dancer|alt=|left]]
The cultural continuity has been maintained for centuries in the exclusive worship of goddesses and deities in Kathmandu and the rest of the country. These deities include the [[Ajima]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jwajalapa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=62 |title=Jwajalapa |access-date=18 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813075826/http://jwajalapa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=62 |archive-date=13 August 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Taleju (or Tulja Bhavani or Taleju Bhawani)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mahavidya.ca/2015/03/03/taleju-bhavani-and-kumari-worship/ |title=Taleju Bhavani and Kumari Worship |website=Mahavidya |date=3 March 2015 |language=en-US |access-date=4 February 2020 |archive-date=8 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008082328/http://www.mahavidya.ca/2015/03/03/taleju-bhavani-and-kumari-worship/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and her other form : Digu Taleju (or Degu Taleju)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.therisingnepal.org.np/news/25684 |title=Reconstruction of Degu Taleju Temple stalled |website=The Rising Nepal |access-date=4 February 2020 |archive-date=4 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204031513/http://www.therisingnepal.org.np/news/25684 |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Kumari (goddess)|Kumari]] (the living goddess).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2015/06/nepal-kumaris-kathmandu-valley/ |title=Living Goddesses of Nepal |date=1 June 2015 |website=National Geographic Magazine |language=en |access-date=4 February 2020 |archive-date=22 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822070547/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2015/06/nepal-kumaris-kathmandu-valley/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> The artistic edifices have now become places of worship in the everyday life of the people, therefore a roster is maintained to observe annual festivals. There are 133 festivals held in the year.<ref name="heritage">{{cite web |url=http://www.kathmandu.gov.np/index.php?cid=137&pr_id=167 |title=Katmandu as a world Heritage Site |publisher=Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Government of Nepal |access-date=25 November 2013 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203021328/http://www.kathmandu.gov.np/index.php?cid=137&pr_id=167 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Some of the traditional festivals observed in Kathmandu, apart from those previously mentioned, are [[Dashain|Bada Dashain]], [[Tihar (festival)|Tihar]], [[Chhath]], [[Maghe Sankranti]], [[Naga Panchami|Nag Panchami]], [[Raksha Bandhan|Janai Purnima]], Pancha Dan, [[Teej]]/[[Rishi Panchami]], [[Pahan Charhe]], [[Jana Baha Dyah Jatra]] (White Machchhendranath Jatra), and [[Matatirtha Aunsi]].<ref name="festival" />