This Festival is willing month of in October during huge festival of Dashain, The bizarre farming village of Khokana remains silent and quiet until the Sikali festival arrives. This is one of the few cities in Nepal, where Ghatsthapana (first day of Dashain) is not established. Dashain festival is not part of the festivities celebrated among the locals in this ancient Newari city. Instead of Dashain, they are busy preparing the eight-day long Sikali Festivities. Although predominantly Hindu, they choose to worship Rudrayani and dozens of other deities. The festivities illuminate the cities on central corners as masked dancers and chariot ride.

Unlike other Newar cities, Khokana Sikali festival does not tell a decisive story of its origin. Khokana is believed to have been settled by Maharjan Pujari of Pachali Bhairav in Kathmandu. Legend says that the priest was to be cremated along with his fully alive wife, Sati. The priests were afraid of death and rose in the middle of the funeral. Attendees at the priest funeral believed the men would be unlucky in the city when they entered the corridor. Thus, they were sent to the land of Kudesh (ancient lost heritage city) but were also persecuted by the locals of Kudesh. The priest and his wife wept and headed eastward, to the opposite bank of the river. Distraught at the sight of them weeping, Goddess Sikali blessed them and sat down on the couch. This festival symbolizes the period of respect, paying homage and offering presents to the Goddess Sikali.

Sikali Festivals will celebrate an eight-days procession, starting from Pratipada in the Hindu calendar and ending on Ashtami. Some parts of the procession are performed in the most secret way, while others are highly performed with colors and traditions.
The first day of the Festivals includes fish worship by four unmarried young boys from three Guthis. The boys go to the dry grassland and engage in worship and fasting. Birds, animals and people have been barred from entering Sikali chaur during the puja period.

On the third day, all the Guthi members of Ta-Guthi, Zhou-Guthi and Sala-Guthi fast.
On the fourth day, Chaturthi, is the sign of the official commencement of the celebration in the city of Khokana. On this day people prepare the festival and have fun with their families.
On the fifth day, the idol of Goddess Rudrayani is taken around the city in a bamboo chariot, from the three-storey pagoda. The night is made attractive by the sacrifices of a buffalo and some ducks.
In the morning of the sixth day, before sunrise, the khat (bamboo chariot) is taken to the Sikali grassland for worship and rituals. Wearing a white headdress with a shiny feta (cloth head), priest carry traditional instruments. The remaining fourteen Thakuris wear shiny jewelry, divine masks, and glittering robes to become gods. The masked dance ceremony officially begins. The dance takes place on the sixth and seventh days in different parts of the city.
On the eighth day, the Sikali festival ends and the mask will returned to the abode to Sikali Devi.
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Furthermore, if you need help to manage plans for this celebration, kindly keep in touch with Himalayanrandoner, we will support you.
Day 01: Arrival at Kathmandu - International airport
Arrival at Kathmandu international airport to drive to your hotel, Overnight hotel with BB,
Day 02: Sight seeing - Kathmandu valley
First you visit Swayambhunath temple, Patan Durbar square. Lunch break, then Pashupatinath temple, and Boudhanath Stupa, and back to Hotel, O/N Same hotel with BB,
Day 03: Sight seeing - Bhaktapur Changunarayan
we drive to Bhaktapur city and Changunarayan, and back to Kathmandu, O/N same hotel with BB,
Day 04, Explore Sikali festival - Join Sikali festival
we drive to Khokana temple and explore the festival with local Newar people, their offerings in temple and masked dances. Lunch there, and back to Kathmandu, O/N same hotel with BB,
Day 05: rest Kathmandu - free day walk on street
walk on street to buy souvenir and back to hotel prepare luggage,
Day 06: Final departure - to Kathmandu International airport
we drive to Kathmandu international airport by private vehicle, we have to leave 3 hours before from hotel according to your flight schedule.
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