Dadeldhura’s ‘final fair of year’ begins

By Pushkar Bhandari,Dadeldhura, Dec. 8: There is a saying in Dadeldhura district that holy fairs begin after Bhai Tika (Tihar) and end with the worship of Mashta Bhagwati in Bhadiwan Danda, Navadurga Rural Municipality–1. This year, that worship is scheduled to be held on Thursday.

The worship held a month after the worship of the famous Ugratara Bhagwati, also located in the district, is held amidst a two-day fair. The first day of the fair is the Ratedi, when celebrations are held during the night (Raat), and the second day is the Diusedi, when celebrations are held during the day (Diuso). This year, the Ratedi has fallen on Wednesday and the Diusedi on Thursday.

The fair is managed by a committee, currently led by local Keshav Raj Rosyara. Talking to The Rising Nepal, he said that the priests and heads from the three villages Nwaghar, Setigaun and Bajadi of Navadurga Ward No. 1 came to the Mashta Bhagwati Temple to worship and present votive offerings. Similarly, pilgrims from other nearby villagers and settlements came to offer prayers. 

But what attracts the greatest attention every year is the huge statue near the Bhagwati Temple. The statue is 45 feet tall and depicts Bhagwati on her animal mount lion. And, according to ward chairman Sher Bahadur Saud, this is the tallest statue of the deity in the world.

Mashta Bhagwati is an ancient and important goddess in Dadeldhura. Legend has it that once upon a time, a hailstorm destroyed all the crops in the area of what is now Navadurga Rural Municipality. 

This led to widespread hunger and the people turned to the divinity for help. 

Mashta Bhagwati answered their prayers and ended the famine. Since then, people have been holding an annual fair for her to show their respect and gratitude. 

Fairs are also held in the Bhagwati’s name on the first day of the Nepali New Year – locally called the Bishu Festival – and during Dashain. Goats and buffaloes are also sacrificed on the occasion.

The Mashta Bhagwati Fair is said to be the final religious fair, called Jaant, in Dadeldhura.