Longest Jatra of Karnali concludes

By Our Correspondent,Jumla, Aug. 19: The longest Jatra of Karnali, held every year in Jumla, has concluded after the symbolic slaying of the Lakhey and organising a chariot procession amid a huge crowd. 

The festival concluded with the Lakhey ritual and chariot circumambulation on Sunday. It is estimated that around 20,000 people observed the event.

This year’s festival of the Newar community, which began in Jumla headquarters in 1896, has come to a close. 

According to festival committee chairman Ashok Shrestha, the festival starts on the day of Pratipada and concludes on Nawami with the ritual slaying of the Lakhey.

 In Jumla, traditional performances like Ganthe Mangal, Lakhey dance, Ropai Jatra, Paltan Jatra, tiger, bear, and Deuda are spectacularly performed during the festival. 

The history of this culture dates back to the Malla period. At present, the festival is also celebrated in Sinja’s Narakot and Kanakasundari.

According to Gaurinanda Acharya, the head of the District Coordination Committee, from next year, people from neighbouring districts such as Jajarkot, Kalikot, Mugu, and Dolpa will also participate in the festival along with the locals of Jumla.

Cultural expert Chitra Lal Shrestha said that the festival not only relieves the year-long fatigue of the people of Karnali and Himalayan districts and provides entertainment, but also helps preserve culture.

A large number of people from rural villages of Jumla gathered at the district headquarters for the festival.

The District Administration Office Jumla, the Nepal Army, and Nepal Police also marked their presence and contributed to preserving the culture during this year’s festival. 

According to cultural expert Bishnu Prasad Upadhyaya, items brought from Badimalika are placed in both the official chariot and the community-made chariot, which are then taken together to the Chandannath temple on the last day. 

This year’s festival also included celebrations on Krishna Ashtami, when Krishna’s birth was marked at midnight, followed by Deuda dance and festivities throughout the night.