+

If it’s Nepali New Year’s today, then this is what goes on in Bhaktapur early morning

The Nepali New Year begins with the first day of the month of Baisakh. On this day, there’s a public holiday, and people sleep till late in the morning.

But in Kathmandu’s neighbouring town Bhaktapur, people wake up early in the morning, that too before dawn. They do so because the New Year coincides with the fifth day of a festival that they hold dear.

The first day of Baisakh coincides with the day a pole erected five days ago to observe Bisket Jatra is brought down.

dWok'/ lylddf dgfOg] P]ltxfl;s la:s]6 hfqfcGtu{t a'waf/ laxfg #M)) ah] ePsf] afns'df/L, blIf0faf/fxL, xl/l;4L, clhdfnufotsf] vt hfqfdf ;xefuL hfqfn'x? . tl:a/ M /Tg >]i7, /f;; .

According to legend, there once was a princess who found her newly married husband dead the night after their marriage. She is believed to have tied the knot several times, but every morning after her wedding, she would find her husband dead.

Locals believe that one day a prince came to the kingdom. When he was about to enter the city, he would meet Goddess Bhadrakali in a nearby forest. It was then that she explained to the prince the reason for the deaths of the princess’ grooms.

When he was about to enter the city, he would meet Goddess Bhadrakali in a nearby forest.

She told him that two snakes come out from the princess’ nostrils at night and kill whoever they find in front of them. They would then go back into her nostrils.

With that in mind, the prince married the princess, and on their first night together, he hid behind the curtains. He found out that the goddess was right. Two big snakes came out of the princess’ nostrils. But he was prepared for this. He slashed the snakes with his sword.

dWok'/ lylddf dgfOg] P]ltxfl;s la:s]6 hfqfcGtu{t a'waf/ laxfg $M)) ah] ePsf] afns'df/L blIf0faf/fxL, xl/l;4L, clhdfnufotsf] vt hfqfdf lrnfv afn]/ ;xefuLx'Fb} hfqfn'x? . cfh} ck/fGxdf klg lji0f'jL/ u0f / l;l4sfnL u0fsf] 5'6f5'§} hfqf x'Fb} 5 . tl:a/ M /Tg >]i7, /f;; .

When dawn came, the princess was surprised to see her husband alive, and the entire town rejoiced to see the prince alive.

From then on, every year, Bisket (Bi=snakes, skya=killed)  Jatra is observed to commemorate the event.

From then on, every year, Bisket (Bi=snakes, skya=killed)  Jatra is observed to commemorate the event. As part of the celebrations, a 70 ft. tall wooden pole, known as ‘yoshin’ is erected at the large square known as Yashinkhel near the Hanumante river.

On New Years’ Day, locals from Balkumari, Harisiddhi and Dakshin Barahi gather in Madhyapur Thimi for a ‘khat’ jatra. The event is organised few hours before the pole is brought down in the afternoon.

dWok'/ lylddf dgfOg] P]ltxfl;s la:s]6 hfqfcGtu{t a'waf/ laxfg $M)) ah] ePsf] afns'df/L blIf0faf/fxL, xl/l;4L, clhdfnufotsf] vt hfqfdf lwd] tyf e":ofo afhf ahf/ ;xefuL x'Fb} hfqfn' . tl:a/ M /Tg >]i7, /f;; .

The procession starts early in the morning with local youths playing their traditional drums and singing traditional songs. They follow the chariots of the Bhairava and Bhadrakali, the same goddess who helped the prince survive.

Bisket Jatra is the only chariot festival in the ancient city of Bhaktapur.

Since the event takes place early in the morning, locals come out with flames in their hands. They then offer the flames to the gods.

dWok'/ lylddf dgfOg] P]ltxfl;s la:s]6 hfqfcGtu{t a'waf/ laxfg $M)) ah] ePsf] blIf0faf/fxL, xl/l;4L, clhdfnufotsf] vt hfqfdf ;xefuL hfqfn'x? cgGtlnªu]Zj/ gu/kflnsfsf] blIf0faf/fxL dlGb/ dl/;/ . tl:a/ M /Tg >]i7, /f;; .

Bisket Jatra is the only chariot festival in the ancient city of Bhaktapur. It also has an important role to play in the lives of the residents of Bhakatapur as it brings together people from different parts of the social strata.

The festival concludes four days after the pole is brought down.

Phtos: RSS

React to this post

Conversation

New Old Popular