बुवाको मुख हेर्ने दिन – Father’s Day In Nepal

Nepalis celebrate the Father’s Day (बुवाको  मुख हेर्ने दिन ) on the no moon day of the lunar dark fortnight in Bhadra (Bhadra Krishna pachaya), August/Sept every year.

Sons and daughters visit their fathers with sweets and gifts to celebrate the father’s day. Usually there is a big family gathering at the parent’s house on this day. Each one of the children takes turn to offer a plateful of sweets to the father. Thereafter, everyone enjoys a feast.

Nepalis believe that the souls of deceased fathers come to Gokarna to accept the offerings made by their sons and daughters on this day.  Hence, on father’s day, Nepalese from across the country, whose father had passed away, visit Gokarneshwore Mahadev temple at Gokarna to take a holy bath in the near by river, worship Lord Shiva, and make offerings in the name of their deceased fathers.  Also, some sons, depending on their religious beliefs, have Hindu or Buddhist priests perform memorial rituals called ‘Sradha’ in the name of the deceased fathers. Likewise, daughters also take a holy bath in the nearby river, worship and then make offerings to Lord Gokarnesvore, however they do not perform Sradha.

After taking purification showers, the ones that could not visit Gokarna offer a plateful of sweets to Brahmin priests or Vajracharya priests depending on their faith, whether they are Hindus or Buddhists respectively.  Nepalis believe that when the priests accept the offerings (Daan), it reaches the souls of their deceased fathers.