Gathamuga festival marked to ward off evils

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 24: The Newars of the Kathmandu Valley and elsewhere observed the Gathamuga or Ghantakarna festival on Wednesday.

The festival is celebrated every year on Krishna Chaturdashi in the month of Shrawan to drive away evil spirits, purify the home and restore spiritual protection. 

According to a popular legend, a demon named Ghantakarna (with bells in the ears) once roamed the ancient streets of Kathmandu Valley, terrorising women and children. He wore a pair of bells on his ears, and they jingled every time he walked across the streets, signalling his arrival to the fear-stricken locals.   

During the festival, at several intersections of Kathmandu’s numerous Newari towns and villages, people erect the effigies of the demon. The structure of Ghantakarna is like a ghost with three legs which are made of hay and grass. Locals also place pots of cooked rice at such intersections beside the dummies. 

During the festivity, the main market of Ason comes alive with vendors selling iron rings, henna and other items.  The festival is believed to ward off evil spirits and bring peace and prosperity.

Meanwhile,  the Newar community of  Dhankuta marked the traditional festival of Gathamuga, also known as Ghantakarna, with deep devotion and cultural rituals today.

According to our Hile correspondent Kabiraj Ghimire, locals from various areas of Dhankuta Bazaar, including Hile, Kagate, and Loksewa gathered to celebrate the festival by constructing effigies of the demon Ghantakarna. People of all age groups, from children to the elderly, took part in the celebrations, informed local Rajeshwor Bahadur Shrestha.

Ghantakarna is believed to have been a fearsome demon who wore large bells on his ears to terrorize people and abduct children. The festival symbolizes the unity of the community in defeating this evil force, said another local Roshan Shrestha.

Celebrated as a triumph over evil spirits, demons, ghosts, epidemics, disease, and chaos, gathamuga holds deep cultural and spiritual significance in the Newar community. Community leaders emphasise that the festival is part of a broader tradition of driving away negative energies and protecting the community from harm.