Nag Panchami

Nāg Panchamī  is a festival during which religious Hindus in some parts of India worship either images of or live Nāgas  on the fifth day after Amavasya of the month of Shraavana. Traditionally, married young women visit their premarital households to celebrate the festival. Especially in villages in India, a traditional aspect of the celebration involves joyous swinging by young women on swings temporarily hung on tree branches.
According to Puranic scriptures, Brahma’s son Kashyapa had four wives. The “first” wife gave birth to Devas; the second, to Garudas; the third --named Kadroo--, to Nāgas; and the fourth, to Daityas. Nāgas were the rulers of Pātāl-Loka.
The following Sanskrit names of Eight Great Nāgas, namely, Ananta, Vāsuki, Padmanābha, Kambala, Shankhapāla, Dhārtarāshtra, Takshaka, and Kaliya:
According to the scriptures, Lord Krishna had conquered Naga Kālia and put an end to his evil deeds on Nāga Panchamī. It is believed that the Kathmandu valley used to be a vast lake. When human beings started to drain the lake to make space for settlements, Nagas became enraged. To protect themselves against the wrath of Nagas, people gave the latter certain areas as pilgrimage destinations, restoring thus harmony in nature.
According to other scriptures, a king used his Tantric powers to force Nagas to return to the land rains which they had taken away. The Nagas gave in to the king’s Tantric power, but in recognition of their power to control rains, the king established Naga Panchami festival.
During the festival, Nepalese traditionally post pictures of Nagas above the doors of their homes to ward off evil spirits, offer prayers to Nagas, and place food items such as milk and honey in their fields for Nagas. A few men wearing demon masks dance in the streets as a part of a ritual. Hindus in Nepal have their own legends surrounding Nagas, which lead them to celebrate Nāga Panchamī on a large scale.
CONTENTS
1 Celebration, rituals and tradition
 In South India
CELEBRATION, RITUALS AND TRADITION
 In South India
On this day married women and the girls wake up early in the morning, take head bath, arrange the things necessary for puja and start to reach a nearest AntHill(Snake's Home). They offer puja and Milk to the Ant Hill and pray to Snake God(Indian Cobra - Lord Subramanya's Incarnation) for the Wellness of their brothers and their family. This day is like RakshaBandhan for South Indian Hindus. If there is no AntHill nearby, they offer milk and puja to the snake statues erected in the nearby temples. A portion of Milk taken for puja is taken back home and offered to everyone at home as prasadam(Thirtham).
They invite their brothers to their home. They immerse a flower in the left over milk and apply it on their brothers' back and perform Arathi for their Wellbeing. They also gift them as per their wish and also the brothers of the women wish for their wellbeing and gift them as per their wish.
Sweets like Kadubu(Kannada, Kudumulu in Telugu), Nuchununde(Kannada, Kanduntalu in Telugu - A spicy item made of dal cooked in steam) are prepared, offered to Lord and then distributed. This festival is observed on the fifth day of Shravana month of Hindu Lunar Calendar after the amavasya of Ashada month.
This festival tries to bring the Sisters (married or unmarried) and their Brothers together for family welfare.
23.Buddhism in Nepal
Buddha was born in Shakya kingdom which lies in Rupandehi district, Lumbini zone of Nepal. 10.74% of Nepal's population practice Buddhism, consisting mainly of groups of Tibeto-Burman origin.
CONTENTS
1 Overview
2 History
2.1 Shakya clans of Lumbin
 OVERVIEW
Swayambhunath stupa and prayer flags.
Buddhist influences are evident in the culture of Nepal because Buddha was born in Nepal. It has strong Buddhist background and has played role in spread of Buddhism to Tibet. Nepalese princess Bhrikuti played a significant role in development of Buddhism in Tibet and Far East. Tibetan Buddhist architecture has long been influenced by Nepalese artists and sculptors like Araniko. The sacred Buddhist texts in Mahayana Buddhism are mainly written in Ranjana script (the script of Newars) or scripts like Lantsa which are derived from Ranjana.
In traditional Nepalese Buddhism, there are nine special texts which are called the "Nine Dharma Jewels", and these are considered the nine books of Buddhism par excellence:
Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra
Gaṇḍavyūha Sūtra
Daśabhūmika Sūtra
Samādhirāja Sūtra
Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra
Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra
Tathāgataguhya Sūtra
Lalitavistara Sūtra
Suvarṇaprabhāsa Sūtra
Among the Tibeto-Burman tribes, Tibetan Buddhism is the most widely practised form. Newar practice Newar variant of Vajrayana Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism. Many Buddhist groups are also influenced by Hinduism.
Buddhism is the dominant religion of the thinly-populated northern areas, which are inhabited by Tibetan-related peoples, namely the Sherpa, Lopa, Manangi, Thakali, Lhomi, Dolpa and Nyimba. They constitute a small minority of the country's population.
Ethnic groups that live in central Nepal, such as Gurung, Lepcha, Tamang, Magar, Newar, Yakkha, Thami, Chhantyal and Chepang, are also followers of Buddhism. These ethnic groups have larger populations compared to their northern neighbours. They came under the influence of Hinduism due to their close contacts with the Hindu castes. In turn, many of them eventually adopted Hinduism and have been largely integrated into the caste system.
The Kirant tribes, especially the Limbu and the Rai, have also adopted Tibetan Buddhist practises from their Buddhist neighbours. The Jirel, which is considered a Kirata tribe, have also adopted Tibetan Buddhism.
 HISTORY
Buddhist prayer flags in Nepal.
Buddha was born in Nepal. He preached in parts of South Asia which lie in modern Nepal.
 Shakya clans of Lumbini
Buddha was born in Lumbini (which is now in Nepal). According to the Tripitaka, he visited his father's kingdom and converted his family and clan to Buddhism. The Shakya clans later moved to Kathmandu valley and helped establish Buddhism there.
Republic of Nepal (2006-present)
Nepal became a secular country in 2006. All religion got equal opportunities to propagate according to their belief. Thus, the role the Buddhist tradition played, is playing and will play to smoothly run society, strengthen it and extend it widely from the narrow frontiers is a great thing worth appreciating.