Fairs & Festivals
As Tansen is home to a number of different ethnic groups, there is at least one fair/festival in a month. Most festivals are based on Hindu or Buddhist mythology. They are celebrated according to the lunar calendar and announced according to the Nepalese months.
Fairs:
Ridi Mela or Maghe Sankranti:
A 3 day festival, held in January/February at Ridi Bazaar is the main festival of the region. During this occasion, numerous Hindu pilgrims from Nepal and India come to Ridi and take a holy bath in the Kali Gandaki River and worship at Rishikesh Temple. During the fair, the area turns into a huge market of handicrafts and products namely woolen blankets, wooden pots, bamboo products, sugarcane cakes, walnuts and more.
Satyawati Mela: The one night festival is held in the full moon night in Nepali month of Kartik (Oct/Nov) at Satyawati Lake, south of Tansen. The legend says that on this night an old goddess with bad hearing will fulfill the wishes of the pilgrims who circle the lake three times and shout their hopes out to her. People take a holy bath in the lake and sacrifice animals and birds to Goddess Satyawati.
Parvas Mela: The fair is held in Nepali month Falgun (Feb/Mar) on Shiva Ratri, the birthday of Lord Shiva. People come here to worship the god Krishna and Shiva. Animals and agriculture products are exhibited in the fare and best farmers are rewarded.
Lalpati Mela: The fair is held in Holi Festival in Falgun (Feb/Mar) in Lalpati in the centre of Madi Valley.
Rambha Pani Mela: The fair is held in Krishnastami in Bhadra (Aug/Sep) in Rambha Pani, 30 km east of Tansen city. People visit there to worship Goddess Rambha Pani and sacrifice animals and birds to fulfill their wishes.
Festivals:
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Baisakh Sankranti ,Nepali new year
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Ram Nawami
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Matatirtha Aunshi
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Baisakh Purnima, Buddha's Birthday
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Sithi Nakha
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Rishikeshotshav
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Tulsi Ropan
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Guru Purnima
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Ghanta Karna
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Pancha Daan, Gunla
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Nag Panchami
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Janai Purnima
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Gai Jatra
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Ropai Jatra
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Shree Nagar Ganesh Jatra
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Bagh Jatra
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Taksar Ganesh Jatra
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Bhimnsen Jatra
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Krishnastami
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Bhagawati Jatra (Bhadra Krishna Nawami)
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Kushe Aaunshi ()
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Amar Narayan Jatra ()
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Laxmi Narayan Jatra ( Bhadra Shukla Dwadasi)
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Teej
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Rishi Panchami
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Dashain
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Tihar
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Maghe Sankranti
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Chhath Parva
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Mahakali Bhagawati Yatra, Darlam danda
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Maghi Parva
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Basanta Panchami
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Shiva Ratri
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Fagu Purnima/Holi, Festival of Colour
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Chaite Dashain
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Ram Nawami