Bhaktapur’s Biska:Jatra begins

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 12: Biska:Jatra, the popular cultural and historical festival exclusively observed in Bhaktapur, has begun formally since Monday. 

On the first day of the eight-day and nine-night festival, a large number of devotees thronged Taumadhi to pay homage to the deity of Bhairavnath from early in the morning. After performing all the customary rituals, the chariot procession of the Bhairavnath began from Taumadhi to Ga: Hiti.  

The idols of Bhairavnath and Betal were placed in the chariot along with the sword and flag brought from Hanumadhoka in Kathmandu. 

The three-storey pagoda style chariot of Bhairavnath was pulled from Nyatapol (five-storey temple) in Taumadhi and was taken around the settlements. 

The residents of the upper (Thane) and lower (Kwane)  areas of the ancient city pulled the chariot. The devotees pulled the chariot throughout the Thane first and then moved towards Dattatraya. The chariot was pulled again through Tekhapukhu towards Kwane, and from there it was brought back to Ga:Hiti. 

On the third day on Wednesday, the Guthi Sansthan will offer special worship in the respect to Bhairavnath by sacrificing animal at Ga:Hiti. 

On the eve of New Year, on the fourth day of the festival, a 55-hand tall armless pole, colloquially called Lhamaru Mha Yesin, with wide bottom like a winnowing fan is erected in the Pottery Square in the morning. 

The pole erecting procession is another attraction of the festival. The eight ropes tied to raise the lingo is considered symbol of Ashta Matrikas. The chariots of Bhairavnath and Bhadrakali are also taken towards the pole.  The pole is pulled down on the fifth day of Biska: Jatra, the New Year Day on  Baishak 1. After that, the chariots of Bhariravnath and Bhadrakali hit each other. On the last day of the Jatra, Bhairavnath's chariot is dragged from Gahiti by the residents of Thane and Kwane toles like on the first day. It is believed that festival has been in practice from the time of King Jagajyoti Malla.