Bajrayogini Jatra begins in Sankhu

BY A STAFF REPORTER,Kathmandu, Apr. 7: Surrounded by a sea of spectators, the golden idol of Goddess Bajrayogini was carried from its temple to the ancient city of Sankhu for the annual Bajrayogini Festival on Thursday. 

The statue was brought from its temple on Manichud Hill on a palanquin accompanied by the Nibha: Dya: (the ancient Swayambhu Chaitya) on a separate wooden carriage. Two smaller idols, belonging to a lion- and a tiger-faced deity, were also brought from the same location on their individual palanquins.

Alongside this ‘procession of gods’ walked bands playing traditional musical instruments, making the atmosphere electric and energetic.

Once inside the city, the four palanquins are kept at a specially designated house in one of its four neighbourhoods or ‘Toles’. These four Toles are Sun Tole, Dhunla Tole, Chalakhu Tole and Inla Tole and the gods are kept in a different one every year. This year, they are being kept at Sun Tole.

The house they are kept in is called the ‘Pahuna Ghar’ (which translates to the Guest House). The gods reside here for four days and during that time, people, except those assigned for rituals and worship, are not allowed inside.

On the fourth day, people take the four divinities and their palanquins around the settlements of Sankhu. This is considered the main day of the festival when devotees from as far as Bhaktapur and Lalitpur also come to watch and offer their prayers.

A day after the main day, that is, on the fifth day, the four idols are kept outside the Pahuna Ghar for commoners to worship.

The Bajrayogini Festival, or the Shree Shree Shree Ugratara Bajrayogini Mai Jatra, is the oldest Jatra of Sankhu and is observed for eight days with much fanfare, not only by the local Newa community but by all residents of the historic town, according to local culture expert Prakash Shrestha. In fact, the local Tamang community is directly involved in the carrying out of the Jatra.

Shrestha also informed that the idol of Bajrayogini taken around during the festival was a replica of the original statue of Bajrayogini goddess kept at the temple.  

Radha Krishna Shrestha, spokesperson for the Shankharapur Municipality and chairman of Ward No. 6, said that the local government had allocated Rs. 400,000 for the Jatra. 

Furthermore, he shared that the municipality also planned to set up a revolving fund to support the management of the festival and ensure it did not face a financial crisis. For this, it has initially set aside Rs. 2 million, with additional amount to be collected from donations. 

Meanwhile, Shankharapur has invited the mayors and deputy mayors of all the local levels of the Kathmandu Valley to observe the main day of the Bajrayogini Jatra, which has fallen on Sunday this year.