Yenya Punhi | Indra Jatra in Bhaktapur

Indra Jatra, most commonly known as Yenya in Nepal Bhasa is the biggest religious street festival in Kathmandu, Nepal. Ye means "Kathmandu" and Ya means "celebration", together it means "celebration inside Kathmandu" in Nepal Bhasa. It is also one of the major festivals celebrated in Bhaktapur which has different celebration events with different local folk stories from that of Kathmandu.

Pulukisi in Taumadhi

Indra Jatra was started by King Gunakamadeva to commemorate the founding of Kathmandu city in the 10th century. The celebrations are held according to the lunar calendar, so the dates are changeable. This year (2020), the festival takes place from 30th August to 6th September.

Gathamaga Charhe

Gathamaga Charhe, also known as Gathemangal is one of the famous one-day festival celebrated in the Newar community. It is celebrated each year on Shrawan Krishna Chaturdashi which lies in the month of June/July. On this day people make a demon-like dummy from straw and other things representing a devil and later burn it taking far away in order to cleanse devils from the society. It is also said that mosquito loses its one leg on this day. People nowadays also named this festival as Ghanta Karna but some people say that Ghanta Karna and Gathamaga are different.

SITHI NAKHA | A NEPALESE CELEBRATION OF "RAIN BABY" KUMAR

Sithi Nakha is one of the important festivals in the Newar community which is celebrated every year on the sixth day of the bright fortnight of Jestha. This year it is on Thursday 15th Jestha, 2077 BS or 28th May 2020 AD. Sithi Nakha marks the first rain of the season before the full monsoon torrents begin to fall hence ending the dry season. It also marks the birthday of Kumar Kartikeya, the elder son of Shiva and Parvati, and the archetypal "rain baby" for the Nepalese people. The festival is celebrated in honor of Kumar, hence this day is also known as Kumar Shasthi. People worship the Pikhalakhu (a place outside the household) by drawing Mandap resembling Kumar.

Sithi Nakha also marks the end of the seven-week Dewali Puja (Digu Puja) period, during which people worship their family deity 'Digu Dya' on their particular day. By the day of Sithi Nakha, the Newar people must complete Dewali Puja. The Dewali Puja is of special significance as the newly married daughters-in-law are welcomed in the family. The Dewali Puja also includes an event of going to the open field for worshiping the family deity, where it is located in an aboriginal condition. Besides, the family members sit together and have a ritual feast.

Subarneshwor Mahadev Temple | Luchu Mahadyo

Subarneshwor Mahadev temple, also known as "Luchu Mahadyo" in local newari tongue is one of the famous temple in Bhaktapur which has great religious value. It is located at Gundu, south of Bhaktapur city in walking distance of about 30-45 minutes from Suryabinayak Chowk. This place is also known for best place to visit inside Bhaktapur leaving the choas city life.

Picture taken at 1985 AD, Photo Museum Nepal

Myth of Luchu Mahadyo

There is a myth about Luchu Mahadyo which is popular among the locals. Many years ago, when a worshipper is worshipping the god, the prayer plate touched the god. At the same time, that prayer plate converted into a gold which is very precious gem. Knowing this, people then came from different part and worshipped mahadev for the gold and then people started referring as mahadev that gives gold. This is how 'Luchu Mahadyo' name is given. In Newari, 'Lun' means gold.

Sakotha | Safu-kotha, a Medieval Library

Sakotha lies to the east of Bhaktapur Durbar Square and north of Taumadhi Square. Name of this place seemed to be derived from the name of medieval library Safu Kotha. In Nepal(Newari) Language, Safu means 'Book' and kotha means 'room'. Today the main house where the library was established is partially destroyed by recent earthquake in April 2015.

Cr. Prajen Gwala Bhadel

When Lichhaviees first came to Nepal that is today's Kathmandu Valley, they brought many more valuable manuscripts to Nepal and set up a library in Bhakapur and named it 'Safu Kotha'. The written history of Nepal began from Lichhaviees King Mandev, so it is also said that Safukotha is the first library of Nepal. Today this place is called Sokatha. Sakotha was famous for oriental philosophy and tantrism in 13th to 17th Century. It is said that there were more than 14000 manuscripts in the Library during that time. Bhaktapur was the main capital city before the unification of Nepal.

Biska Jatra

Biska Jatra also known as Bisket Jatra is one of the famous festival / jatra celebrated in Bhaktapur city. Biska Jatra is also celebrated in other places with Newari community like Thimi, Tokha etc but in Bhaktapur it is a special one. It is nine days and eight nights festival that witnesses huge local participants along with thousands of visitors. Very few people know that this festival is also referred as a festival that is celebrated two years, two months and two days. I will explain it in this article later.

Bhailakha at Nyatapola

Biska Jatra starts from last 4th day of month Chaitra and ends on 5th of Baisakh according to Bikram Sambat Calendar. In simple, if month Chaitra has 30 days, then Biska Jatra starts at 27th and if it has 31 days, Biska Jatra starts at 28th day of Chaitra. Biska Jatra involves pulling of chariots like tug of war from two sides, erecting around 55 feet long Yo:sing (wooden pole) and worshipping them and other deities.

Biska Jatra commences after a special Tantric ritual in the Bhairav temple in Taumadhi Tole in Bhaktapur. God Bhairav is placed in three storeyed large chariot known as "Bhailakha" in local tongue and Goddess Bhadrakali is placed in two storeyed small chariot known as "Nakinjukhacha" in local tongue. God Bir Betal also sits in Bhailakha. Both chariots are then pulled by crowds to take them to designated place.

Biska Jatra is said to be started by Malla King of Bhaktapur - Jagajyoti Malla around 3-4 centuries ago. He was fascinated by myth and folklore, and it was due to a particularly intriguing myth that Biska Jatra was established as an annual event. Biska Jatra was originally called "Bisyaku Jatra". In Newari, "bi" means snake and "syaku" means slaughter/kill) which reveals the myth of slaughter of snakes.

Myths behind Biska Jatra

There is a myth that this celebration is the "festival after the death of the serpent". According to the myth, once there was a beautiful princess but it was unfortunate that anyone who marry her, found dead the next day. It's cause remained mystery to everyone until once young man risked marrying her despite knowing the result. His elderly mother forbade him from doing so, but then another old lady offered some advice to the young lad for his safety.