Tamang community at the Boudhanath Stupa every year, marks the time of the rain’s arrival. It is one of the main festivals of the Tamang community. The term “Temal” is sometimes considered a synonym of the word “Tamang”. Thousands of Tamangs come together during the festival, which is celebrated a day before the full moon in the Nepali month of Chaitra. During the festival, Tamangs from all over Nepal come to the stupa to offer butter lamps (nangsal) and say their prayers. Some even observe fasts and pray at nearby monasteries. They rotate the prayer wheels while singing the Phapare Geet. For many youngsters, the festival night, which is marked by singing and dancing, is also a chance to find love.

The Jatra also provides an opportunity for family members and relatives from all over the country to gather and pay homage to their loved ones who have passed away. They do this by lighting butter lamps and offering rice grains to the gods. The belief is that these offerings will help the departed attain nirvana or moksha. But for the locals of Boudha, the festival is also a time to make some extra income, which they do by setting up stalls selling incense sticks, wicks, oil and ghee for lamps, as well as food.