Handigaun marks Gahana Khojne Jatra

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 9: Everyone around the area of Handigaun and its surroundings gathered at the Gahana Pokhari (pond) of Handigaun and enjoyed the Gahana Khojne Jatra (searching for the jewel fiesta) on Saturday.    

Scores of musicians playing Dhime and Nyakhin made the atmosphere energetic once the chariot of Tundal Devi arrived at Gahana Pokhari of Handigaun. Gahana Khojne Jatra, is one major Jatra celebrated by the Newari community of Handigaun.  The historical town is famous for two major festivals, Gahana Khojne Jatra and Satya Narayan Jatra, also known as the 'Kahi Nabhaeko Handigaun Jatra.’  

Devotees carry a khat (palanquin) of goddess Tundal Devi (Vaishnavi) throughout Handigaun. Then, the khat carriers take the khat inside the Gahana Pokhari (pond) to search for jewellery. The festival is observed over several days but the main event took place on Saturday. 

On the main day, the idol of goddess Tundal Devi is placed on a khat and it brought from her temple at Baluwatar and devotees of Handigaun take it round their locality. 

On the way of Gahana Pokhari, where the red mud is painted in front of the house, the chariot is stopped there. The process is repeated for multiple times. At the stop over, devotees offer various items to pay respect of the goddess. One of the interesting things devotees offer is umbrella that is hung on the top of the pagoda-style three storied temple-shaped khat.    

Two men take three rounds of the pond with a silver pole in their hands when the khat reaches Gahana Pokhari. 

Following the lead of a man, devotees enter into the pond with khat and they also take three rounds carrying the khat into the pond. 

After that, the khat of Tundal Devi is brought to the Dabali (a platform). 

Mahalaxmi, the youngest sister of Tundal Devi, is placed at the Dabali, waiting for arrival of Tundal Devi. Then, the khat of Mahalaxmi takes three rounds around Tundal Devi and Tundal Devi is placed at the oldest Dabali of Hadigaun for about two days. 

Bijaya Prakash Karmacharya, a priest of Tundal Devi Temple, said that they send prasad and flowers to the goddesses of Bhairavi at Nuwakot as a message that the lost jewels have been found. But, they are lost again 

Earlier, there was a tradition to take the khat of Tundal Devi to Nuwakot to give the message that she found her lost jewels. Over time, the tradition was only limited to sending prasad and flowers to Nuwakot that too ended around 30 to 40 years back, he said. 

He further said that every year, recalling the myth of searching the jewels of Tundal Devi, the festival of  Gahana Khojne Jatra is celebrated at the Gahana Pokhari. 

According to him, the three sisters - Mahalaxmi, Tundal Devi and Bhairavi of Nuwakot - were travelling along the sky and they were drawn by the view of the pond of Handigaun. Then, they entered into the pond for swimming.  

Tundal Devi happened to lose her jewel in the pond. As it was getting dark, Bhairavi of Nuwakot returned to their homes. Mahalaxmi from Naxal stayed there to give company to  Tundal Devi as her home was nearby. After they found the lost jewels, both sisters returned home. 

The festival formally begins from the day of Paha Charhe festival on March 20 with the scattering of rice in every junction and temple of Handigaun, Bhatbhateni and Naxal area, he informed.  

The wooden pole is erected at the Dabali of Bhuteshwori on March 29. There is a tradition to give oil massage to the Tundal Devi five days before the main festival; it is performed on April 3. Special worship on Friday in respect of the goddess was marked by the sacrifice of the he-buffalo.