Preparations for Biska: Jatra underway

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 4: The famous festival of Biska: Jatra of Bhaktapur is approaching near. The nine-day festival will kick off from April 10 by pulling the chariots of the two deities -Bhairavnath and Bhadrakali. 

Now works to prepare the wooden chariots of Bhairavnath and Bhadrakali are moving ahead in full swing. 

Construction of the chariots of Bhairavanath and Bhadrakali, which are essential for the Jatra, has begun on the premised of five-storey temple of Taumadi since March 31. 

Khima Oli, head of Guthi Sansthan, Bhaktapur, informed that the works to prepare timber  of different sizes for making the chariots and their wheels,  and repairing the damaged parts have been going on. 

A new wheel has been prepared by buying new timber and other wheels have been repaired. Construction and painting of a pagoda-style chariots will be completed by April 9, she said. 

Bhairavnath Chariot will be taller than Bhadrakali. A large amount of wood was provided by the donors for the construction of the chariots and the Guthi Sansthan bought the additional wood required to construct and repair the chariots in time.

She further said, “To pull the chariots, we have instructed the contractor to bring two 90-hand long strong ropes. A 55-hand tall lingo with a wide bottom like a winnowing fan is required for the Jatra.

She informed that a budget of Rs. 2.5 million is allotted for the Biska: Jatra this year and they should manage everything including the puja expenses, construction of chariots and purchase of ropes from the budget.  

On April 9, the Khadga (sword), the symbol of king, will be brought from Hanumadhoka to Bhaktapur and kept inside the Guthi office  that day after performing puja of a tree in the forest of Changa Ganesha temple, according to Oli. 

An employee of Guthi, disguised as the king, takes the Khadga to the Guthi office. The festival starts after completing this process and the Khadga will be handed over to the priest of Taleju on April 10, she added. 

From the Lichchhavi period, there was a tradition of starting the Biska: Jatra four days before the New Year Day (Baishak 1) by pulling the chariot of Bhairava and Bhadrakali. 

The chariot pulling and Lingo jatra are the main attractions of the festival. 

A wooden pole brought from Sallaghari in Suryavinayak Municipality-10 Chittapol of Bhaktapur, for the Jatra is raised by the Prajapati Society atPottery Square.

On the last day of Chaitra month, the lingo jatra is celebrated in Lysingkhel after erecting the wooden pole called Indradhwojnthan in the morning. The pole is pulled own in the evening the same day.  

According to the tantric method, the 35-feet high three-storey Bhairavnath's chariot, which is built in the pagoda style, is seated on the main deity of Bhairavnath and the Betal deity, and it is a tradition to drag the chariots from the five-storey temple courtyard to the upper and lower areas of Bhaktapur city.