Earthquake-damaged temple rebuilt in Chautara

By Chitra Mijar,Sindhupalchowk, Sept. 9: The Shri Krishna Temple, located in Chautara, the district headquarters of Sindhupalchowk district, has been rebuilt eight years after the 2015 earthquake left it in ruins. The temple is archaeologically and culturally significant. 

The reconstruction of the 115-year-old temple has been completed at a cost of Rs. 200 million provided by the Department of Archeology. 

The materials used in the reconstruction of the pagoda-style temple as well as its style reflect its originality. 

The construction has been completed within six months after the start of the reconstruction. 

The idol of the Lord Shri Krishna has been established in the mid-floor of the three-storied temple. A library will be established on the ground floor in the future.  

Before the opening of the Araniko Highway, the Newar community who came from the Kathmandu Valley during the trade with Tibet used to live here, and it was built to take rest while travelling from Kathmandu to Tibet. 

The temple was built under the leadership of late Bhaktadhwaj Pradhan, the then leader of the Newar community of Chautara. 

In the same year the temple was built, in 1907, a Guthi was also formed to run it. Since then, a fair has been organised on the day of Krishna Janmasthami – the birthday of Lord Krishna –every year. 

On that day, an image of Lord Shri Krishna is placed on a chariot and paraded around the market. Accompanying the procession are Lakhe dance performances. In the past, the Mahakali dance and the Ghintang Ghisi dance also used to be performed. 

Kamal Charan Kakshapati, a cultural activist, informed that the disappeared dances are being revived.   

He said that now, the cultural instruments of the Newar community have been brought and the training and dances classes have been started again. 

Kakshapati said that people come from all over the district and beyond to observe the Lakhe dance and culture here. 

The temple has various historical aspects. During the Panchayati regime, when it was next-to-impossible to speak or write against the Panchyati regime, local administration, and their machinery, there used to be a lively tradition of protests by performing a cow procession and writing graffiti on the wall of the temple. 

The temple has been housing a library since its founding. In 1947, a group of local children gathered on the temple premises for educational activities, which led to the establishment of the Sri Krishna Ratna Ganga Secondary School. The school has been a centre of education to this day. 

According to a folklore, once upon a time there was a bush of stinging nettle leaf (Sisno) at the temple site. The tune of the flute would radiate from the bush in the middle at every mid-night, and the moment the locals went to see it, it would disappear.