Thimi Celebrates Nepali New Year with the Vibrant Sindoor Jatra Festival
Thimi, Nepal – The ancient town of Thimi came alive in a burst of red as locals celebrated Sindoor Jatra, or the Vermillion Festival, to mark the beginning of the Nepali New Year 2082. The festival, steeped in tradition and cultural pride, transformed the streets into a sea of color, joy, and music.
Held annually on the 2nd of Baisakh, the first month of the Nepali lunar calendar, Sindoor Jatra is a highlight of the broader Biska Jatra celebrations in the Bhaktapur district. Devotees carried 32 ceremonial palanquins, each bearing a deity, through the town’s streets surrounding the Balkumari Temple. The air was filled with the rhythmic beats of traditional drums and cymbals, energising participants and onlookers alike.
One of the most striking features of the festival is the use of vermillion powder, which is thrown into the air and smeared on faces as a symbol of prosperity, joy, and sacred blessings. This vivid red powder turns the town into a canvas of celebration, as people of all ages come together in communal harmony.
The day before the main event, locals perform “Gunsin Chhoyekegu”, a ritual that involves the burning of forest wood and marks the prelude to the grand celebration. As Nepal steps into a new year and welcomes the spring season, Sindoor Jatra continues to serve as a cultural landmark, uniting communities through shared heritage, devotion, and festivity.
