Rato Machhendranath praying for rain

Rato Machhendranath雨乞いのお祭り

Festival in Patan

Now people are celebrating Rato Machhendranath festival in Patan. The month-long festival begins with the construction of the chariot begins on the 4th day of the two-week of Bachhala which is the seventh month in the lunar Nepal Sambat calendar. The construction takes place in April.

However first time I saw the festival was back to last October. Since the devastating earthquake damaged the chariot , it was delayed.

Chariot

When I happened to see it, first something very tall appeared in the dark when I walked in Patan after I had dinner out. It was like a tower in the middle of the narrow allay. People surrounding around the tower, I assumed it as a march by protesters lol.


The chariot procession known as Bunga Dyah Jatra or Rato Machhindranath Jatra is the most important event. It is celebrated by Buddhists and Hindus of Newar community by carrying the chariot.

Btw they have a similar festival, rather than, I am confused , Seto Machhendranath Rath in Kathmandu. The chariot is much larger.

Rato Machhendranath is known as the god of rain. Before they will have rainy season in June, they worship the god praying for rain and prosperity.

Actually I asked my friend in Nepal pictures of the festival but he told me that he didn't go see it because it rained yesterday. Wow The worship already has worked !

Today he went to Darbar Square in Patan to learn the huge crowd joining the festival. He took pics of them but I haven't given and I will receive them tomorrow. I will upload them then.

パタンのお祭り

今、ネパールはRato Machhendranath祭の真っ最中です。チャリオット（山車）を作るところから始まるこの1箇月のお祭りは、ネパールカレンダー（太陰暦）の7箇月目にあたるBachhala の2週の4日目から開始です。製作は4月になります。
が、わたしがこのお祭りを見たのは、去年の１０月です。壊滅的な地震で、チャリオットが壊れてしまったため、遅れたんです。

チャリオット

わたしがそれに出くわしたとき、夕食を外でたべてパタンを歩いていると暗がりに何か最初は暗がりからたかーいものが見えました。まるで狭い通りど真ん中に建つ、タワーみたいでした。ヒトがその周りに集まっているので、抗議活動かと思いましたw

チャリオットパレードは、 Bunga Dyah Jatra または Rato Machhindranath Jatraと呼ばれ、メインイベントです。仏教と先住民族ネワール族のヒンズー教両方がチャリオットを引いてお祝いします。

ちなみに似た、というかわたしが混乱したお祭りにカトマンズでお祝いされるSeto Machhendranathがあります。こっちの方がチャリオットがもっと大きいそうです。

Rato Machhendranath は雨の神様です。6月に来る雨季の前に雨と繁栄をおお祈りするんですね。
なお、ネパールの友達にお祭りの写真をお願いしたのですが、昨日は雨が降ったので見に行くのをやめたそうです。効果抜群！？

今日とれたそうなんですが、まだ入手できてないので明日載せます！

the only Zoo in Nepal

ネパールで唯一の動物園

I went to the zoo located at Jawlakhel of Lalitpur Patan district last year. It was fun to walk around a zoo outside of Japan.  And this is the only zoo in Nepal !

This is the HP.　http://www.centralzoo.info/

Actually it is a simply zoo. But you will see 700 animals of 108 different species.

First this is a map.

Signs are in English and Nepalese.

Rhinoceros....filled with melancholy　

サイ　哀愁漂ってます

Hippopotamus....seems to be fine　

カバ　ご機嫌

 I saw monkeys and deer, a tiger... and this beautiful garden. I didn't figure out why this garden is situated in the zoo...

なぜか素敵なお庭が中に

this is the place.

I boast this Nepali Embroidery shawl

自慢のネパーリショール

Hand Embroidery is incredible!

I want to boast this shawl. I got this in Thamel in Kathmandu, cashmere with silk woven.

How to celebrate Mother's Day

それぞれの母の日

in Japan

Today is Baisakh 26th in 2073 in Nepali calendar.

In most countries Mother's day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May, including Japan.

People celebrate motherhood giving red carnations commonly in Japan.

This tradition is like the United State according to some articles. This is based on the beginning of Mother's day in the United State.

And in Japan it is also common that kids 's drawings of moms are tacked on the walls in kindergartens or primary schools. The pictures they made show their loves to moms.

It is kind of ritual in Nepal

In Nepal Mother's day falls on the Nepali month of Baisakh. This year, it was celebrated on May 6.
It is also known as Mata Tirtha Ausi which is a tradition rather than a festival. People visit Mata Tirtha in Kathmandu, to perform Sraddha or Pind Daan generally. Although they are Hindu rituals performed to pay homage to their ancestors, specially parents post death, there are more than 60 ethnic groups in Nepal and they have their own ways to celebrate Mother's day. My friend,

San, told me he called his mother giving his love and respect to her.

It is always the best way to express my love for mothers in any nations.

日本では

今日はネパールのカレンダーで言うと2073年の Baisakh月です。

日本を含み、多くの国では5月第２日曜日が母の日です。赤いカーネーションをプレゼントするのが一般的。

この慣習はいくつかの記事で読んだところ、アメリカでも同じみたいです。これはアメリカで始まった母の日に基づいてます。

日本では幼稚園や小学校で子どもがお母さんの絵を書いて、壁に飾るのが一般的でもあります。

ネパールでは儀式のような

ネパールというと、Baisakhに母の日はあります。今年は5月6日でした。Mata Tirtha Ausi といってお祭りというより儀式です。

カトマンズのMata Tirtha という場所に行って、 Sraddha または Pind Daan を行います。これらはヒンズー儀式で、祖先、とくに両親がな亡くなっている場合は、そのあとに敬意を表すために行われるものですが、
とはいえ、ネパールには60以上の民族がいるので、それぞれの方法で母の日はお祝いされるそうです。

私の友人のサンは、お母さんに電話して感謝の気持ちを伝えたとか。

自分がどこの国であったとしても、お母さんに直接気持ちを伝えるのが、最良ですよね。

Boy's festival in Japan

子供の日

“Carp Streamers” (koinobori) 

a plenty of Koinobori in an event held in Tokyo tower

Today is "Children's day". It is also called "Boy's festival" comparing to Girl's festival on March 3.

Traditionally families having boys celebrate their boy's  healthy growth and happiness flying carp-shaped streamers(Koinobori) the exterior of the house or display dolls of warriors inside. I remember Koinobori flutter in the wind when I was a kid.

Koinobori imply a family consisted of father and mother, a boy.

the traditional style

History

Back to Edo-era, when a boy was born, warrior(samurai) families celebrate it putting a flag out at their home exteriors. This custom became common among the regular people.
And people connected this custom with a Chinese ancient story of  carp and started to display Koinobory.

The myth is like this.
There was a violent waterfall called the Dragon gate. Only a carp swam upstream strongly  to become a dragon while other fishes didn't make it.
People changed the custom and started to display Koinobori instead of flags. Koinobori symbolizes strength and success.

Less common

In the recent years more people live in apartments rather than houses.  They don't  have enough space to display Koinobori in the balconies. Even they do, Koinobori are flown by the strong wind and got stuck in ｔｈｅ balcony of .nextdoor.