Handigaun Jatra marked

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Oct. 9: Locals of Handigaun celebrated the Narayan Jatra, an age-old tradition to pay homage to Lord Bishnu, on Wednesday.

This festival, celebrated every year after Kojagrat Purnima, is regarded as an ancient indigenous tradition of this region.

Known as the Three Narayans Festival and also famous for the saying regarding the jatra, “Kahi nabhayako jatra Handigaunmaa” (There are no processions like those in Handigaun), this festival is different from others.

It is said that this festival is unique because, unlike in other places where the chariot’s pinnacle is not inverted, in the Narayan festival here, it is placed in an inverted manner.

During the festival, chariot processions are held on Wednesday in Handigaun, Bishalnagar, and Gahanapokhari areas.

A guthi land was allocated in the name of Chokket Narayan, also known as Choka Thuna Narayan, to organize the festival every year. In the records of the Guthi Sansthan, guthi land is registered in the names of Chok Thuna Narayan and Tin Narayan.

According to an inscription in the Newar language on the temple door, this festival started during the reign of King Narendra Malla.

This jatra has three chariots without wheels. The devotees carry the chariots on their shoulders. The chariots take the shape of an inverted umbrella at the top, consist of idols of various gods, and have the pinnacle at the bottom.

Each khat is rotated in a clockwise direction by a man sitting at its base while the chariots make a round of Handigaun. The jatra is believed to invite protection and prosperity to the locals.