THE BISKET JATRA

One of the most a colourful Jatra which celebrates in ancient city of Bhaktapur 18 kilometer far from Kathmandu. The Bisket Jatra, which marks the end of the Nepali month of Chaitra and the beginning of a New Nepali  Year in Baisakh, welcomes one and all in and around Bhaktapur and beyond its boundaries

This Bisket Jatra is famous because of  ‘tongue piercing' and the festival is celebrated with much pomp and fanfare A volunteer from the Shrestha family gets his tongue pierced in a spiritual trance with an iron spike and walks around the town shouldering a round bamboo rack with flaming torches. tongue piercing ceremony that takes place during the chariot procession. It is believed that the successful completion of this painful rite brings good fortune to the villagers & the volunteer himself.

The famous festival, which is observed for eight nights and nine days,  according to historical records  it  has been marked since the Lichchhivi era (c. 450-c. 750), The Jatra  started worshiping Bhairabi temple nearby Paanchtale temple in Naumadi .

During the festival, a chariot procession is held in Bhaktapur and images of Ganesh, Lakshmi and Mahakali are carried around town.

The Bisket Jatra marks a cultural ecstasy in Bhaktapur. Prominently observed at the adventof spring, it is a festival of human emotions that are symbolically depicted through the multiple aspects of the festival.The central point of folklore, as it goes, is about the slaughtering of a pair of snakes by a handsome young man bestowed with tantric powers.It is said that the two serpents came out of the nostrils of a beautiful princess when she sneezed at midnight. In the twinkling of an eye, they transformed into huge serpents. When they were about to strike the young man, he killed them, using his tantric powers.

Having found the youth alive and the serpents dead, Bishwo Malla, the then ruler of Bhaktapur,

According to mythical beliefs, Bhairab and Bhadrakali are the divine male and female forms of the firmament and the Earth, respectively. It is said that the conjugation of the sky and the earth made creation possible on our planet. The rain that showers from the sky on earth is considered the life-giving element, while the earth is the foundation of creation. The hole in which the Yoshin is erected is the symbol of the female creative organ, Guheshwori. introduced the practice of hoisting two long flags on wooden poles, designed after the shapes of the killed serpents. The long poles were addressed as Yoshin, more popular as phallic symbols among the locals today. The banners are also known as ‘Bishwo dhoja’ after the king. The hoisting of these flags is observed annually with much enthusiasm.

The Bisket Jatra is also a celebration of this joining of Bhairab and Bhadrakali who are addressed as Bhaila Deo and Nakinju Ajima in the local dialect. Metallic idols of the deities are brought out of the temples four days prior to the erection of the Yoshin in separate chariots called Bhaila Kha and Nakinju Kha. The chariots are voluntarily drawn by festive people. Therefore, the concept of the Jatra is essentially based on conjugality, creation, and continuity of life.

Two different poles are erected during the Jatra. One of the poles possesses two extended arms while the other has none. The Yoshin without arms is erected a day earlier than the one with arms, and is put up at the Potters Square in the morning hours.

The Yoshin with arms is erected in late evening on the eve of the Nepali new year. The huge crowd gathered for the occasion sings songs of joy during the procession.

Energetic youths attempt to climb the pole, using big ropes in order to get hold of the plants placed at its top. Anyone who is able to do so, it is believed, will increase his chances of siring a male child.

The pole is positioned perpendicularly to the sky and the earth for 24 hours. The event is followed by a big feast all over Bhaktapur.

The dawn of the New Year is a joyous moment for all Bhaktapurians. Many of them assemble on the Yoshin Khel in the early hours of the morning, paying homage and making sacrifices to Bhairab and Bhadrakali up until midday. The cheerful atmosphere and the festive gala signify the advent of a new Bikram year.

The Yoshin is taken down in the evening of the New Year. Tunes are played with flutes, drums, cymbals and other musical instruments, and accompanied by singing every now and then. After the Yoshin is laid to the ground, people come together to pull the chariots towards Gahiti—one of the toles in town.

At midnight, the Bhairab and Bhadrakali chariots are brought together, symbolizing copulation. But this time, the Bhairab chariot does not move a single inch. It is the Bhadrakali vehicle which keeps dashing passionately over to Bhairab at midnight.

The wholesomeness of the Jatra makes it a dynamic living heritage of Shangri-La for all those who love culture.

Indrajatra :Yanya Puni

Indra Jatra is one of the biggest Jatra (Festival) of Kathmandu Valley. It is also called Yanya Punhi ( Full moon) This is celebrated both by Buddhist and Hindus. Varieties of cultures and traditions can be seen on this festival. It is also believed that Indra Jatra is a festival of classical dances. Indra Jatra is named after God Indra, the king of heaven.

On the third day of the festival of Indra Jatra, the living goddess Kumari ventures out along with lord Ganesh and lord Bhairav in a chariot in the procession. Kumari, is said to be an incarnation of the goddess Taleju. Chariots of Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairav move around the city for three days. 

Kumari : The living Goddes :  The festival begins with the  erection of Yosin, a ceremonial pole, accompanied by the rare display of the deity Aakash Bhairab, represented by a massive mask spouting beer and liquor. Households throughout Kathmandu display images and sculptures of Indra and Bhairab. 

On the first day, a long wooden pole is erected in front of the ancient Royal Palace at Hanuman Dhoka, in order to propitiate Lord Indra, the”god of rain”. To celebrate Indrajatra classical dancers were shows dances wearing different kinds of traditional masks and costumes and go through dancing the different temple and around the courtyard of Hanuman Dhoka.

On the third day of the festival of Indra Jatra, the living goddess Kumari ventures out along with lord Ganesh and lord Bhairav in a chariot in the procession. Kumari, is said to be an incarnation of the goddess Taleju. Chariots of Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairav move around the city for three days. According to Hindu faith Ganesh is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is wife of Lord Shiva. It is believed that Ganesh has the head of an elephant. Bhairav is one of the forms of Lord Shiva.

On this day, previously the king used to pay homage to the Kumari and now the president of Nepal pay homage to Kumari the living Goddeses.

Dus Avatar : This is a festival which is celebrate at night in a time of Indra Jatra. Dus Avatars which is a show of a ten incarnations of  God  Lord Vishnu. Which is staged in Kathmandu Durbar Square, in the neighborhood of the Kumari Temple. ‘Dasha Avataras‘ are also enacted by the artists. In this occasion there intriguing dances of Masks God and Goddeses

Majipa Lakhe dance is one of the main attractions of the jatra. Majipa Lakhey is considered as the calm Bhairabh It is a beliefs that the Bhairab protects the children from evils and demons. In this occation Lakhenani (Guthi) organises the dance which takes place for a week. Majipa Lakhey one of the most popular symbol of Nepalese culture and religion.

Pulu Kisi is  believed to be the carrier of Indra himself. Pulu Kisi goes through the streets of the ancient city Kathmandu in searched for his imprisoned master. Pulu Kisi comes with the team of cusical band and go around the street doing naughty and mischievous things by running swinging its tail in an amazing manner which makes people excited and laugh.

Yomari Punhi - one of the popular Newar festivals is observed every year during the full moon of December.A yomari is a food item which is a mixture of new harvest rice-flour dough shaped like fig and filled with brown cane sugar  called Chaku and sesame seeds, which is prepared by steamed. This delicacy is the chief item on the menu during the post-harvest celebration of Yomari Punhi. On this Yamari Puni, people of the Kathmandu Valley offer worship to Annapurna, the goddess of grains, for the rice harvest. Groups of kids go neighborhood door to door to beg yomari by singing in the evening to mark the festival. The delicacy plays a very important role in Newar society. According to some, the triangular shape of the yomari is symbolical representation of one half of shadkona, the symbol of Saraswati and wisdom.

Newari cultural

Introduction

Newar's are very rich in culture because of their unique living life style. From the birth of child to the death of the man there are several ritual customs family gatherings  which are very unique. The way of living and the celebration of different festivals which binds the newar peoples  with each other . The traditional customs which also cause of making the newari culture rich. 

The Newari culture is very vast and it consists of many caste each with different culture, tradition and their own values. The unique culture and tradition of Newars have been recognized all around the world and has gained overwhelming respect of all.

There are various festivals such as Machabu byankeyu when the child becomes seven days. As the girl or boy child grow up according to the growth there are several ceremonies and gatherings such as birth day celebration, rice feeding, Bara tayegu, Kayetapuja, Marriage. Here are some of them to explore the newari culture and show to disseminate to the world.

Birthday celebration: Every year there is a birthday celebration by worshiping God and Goddesses going to the temple and offering gifts of eggs, fruits, curd, cloth, money to the one who's birthday is going to be celebrate.

Rice Feeding Ceremony: This ceremony is organized when the girl child becomes 5 months of age she will be feed by organizing ceremony. And if the child is boy then this custom will be done only in six or seven month of his birth.

Baratayegu  ( This custom is only for girl child)

 After when the girl child become older up to 11/12 then the girl child will be kept Bara tayagu . In this custom she is kept in the dark room she can not go out of her room up to 12 days and could not see the faces of man and light of sun.

Kayetapuja ( This ritual is only for boy )

The exact meaning of this ritual is to worship the inner cloth of boy .The boy child head make bowl by cutting hair cleanly   the age of boy should be around 8 to 16 of age normally . In this ceremony there is various puja done by priest and go for temple in a group of family members and relative.

There are other several customs I have described the Newar's culture in short and few only. 

Beside that there are also several festival which are as follows :

Sitti Nakha : This is also very popular festival among Newars . In this festival all family gathered and cooked delicious food  and eat together . In this occasion house wife prepare Bara, Chatamari, Chwela and Tho for drink which is very sweet to drink.