14th century hinglos being decorated for Dashain

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By Gokarna Dayal

Baitadi, Sept. 29: Locals in Baitadi district have started decorating the hinglo, believed to have been installed on the premises of Bhagwati Temple in the 14th century to play swings during Dashain festival.

A hinglo is a swing made up of a 40-feet-long iron chain which is hanged by a Sal log laid over two tall wooden poles.

According to Chandra Singh Thapa, chief of Tripura Sundari Bhagwati Temple, decoration of hinglos installed at all five Bhagwati Temples across the district have been started since the day of Ghatasthapana.

Ghatasthapana is the first day of Navaratra marked by worshipping the deity Shailaputri in accordance with Vedic rituals and sowing maize and barley seeds in a jar filled with soil and cow dung to germinate Jamara (barley shoots).

“The hinglos are always there. But as Dashain commences, they are painted and decorated. The logs and chains are also inspected to ensure the swing is fit,” said Thapa.

According to steward of Tripura Sundari’s Bhagwati Temple Keshar Singh Thapa, the hinglo on the temple’s premises was changed 14 years ago, and it is still in a perfect condition.

Culture expert Chandra Mohan Tiwari informed that there were hinglos in all seven Bhagwati Temples across Sudurpashchim Province. All these temples perform special rituals during Dashain.

Among the seven temples, five – Tripura Sundari, Ninglasaini, Melauli, Dilasaini and Kaflasaini – are in Baitadi district. The remaining two are in Ugratara, Dadeldhura and Shaileshwori, Doti.

“It can be found that the hinglos were installed alongside the establishment of the Bhagwati Temples in the 14th century. They are always open for use. Since crowds of people play swing during Dashain, they are inspected properly and decorated as well,” said Tiwari.

Punar Singh Dayal, a cultural expert and a former member of the House of Representatives from Baitadi, recited a folklore, “Hune gaaun hinglo, nahune gaaun chuchhai” (Rich village has a hinglo and the poor none). 

Translating the folklore, Dayal said, “It means that a village with a hinglo is rich and the poor village cannot install it. It was so because hinglo was a safer swing and is still safer despite constructed centuries ago.”

Dayal stressed that the iron chains used in hinglos of Melaula Bhagwati and Tripura Sundari Bhagwati were made by local ironsmiths (from Bishwakarma community) from the iron of a mine in Maharudra, Baitadi.

“Anyone is allowed to come and swing hinglos anytime of the year. It has been the tradition for centuries and we will continue honouring and following it,” said Hemraj Lekhak, priest of the Tripura Sundari Bhagwati Temple.

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