Biska Jatra begins in Bhaktapur

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 11: The eight-night, nine-day-long Biska Jatra began on Friday with the pulling of the Bhairavnath chariot from Taumadhi.

To celebrate the Biska Jatra in a dignified and grand manner, the Guthi Sansthan, Bhaktapur, has made arrangement to pull the chariot of Bhairavnath from Taumadhi and conclude it at Ga: Hiti. Various processions are held during the nine-day festival.

On the first day of the Biska Jatra, it is a tradition for the residents of Kwane and Thane to pull the Bhairavnath chariot from the five-story temple premises toward their respective settlements, using five ropes in front and four behind.

The first day of the Jatra completes by dragging the chariot toward Thane, moving it to Dattatreya, and then dragging it again via Tamari to Tekhapukhu toward Kwane, before returning it to Ga: Hiti, said Aandha Karmacharya, chief of the Guthi Sansthan. 

Bhaktapur Municipality has issued a public notice specifying the chariot-pulling schedule, routes, worship times, and other ritual timings.

The municipality has also issued a schedule of several rituals and chariot-pulling activities to ensure the festival is celebrated peacefully. 

The second day of the festival will be considered the “zero day.” On the third day, a he-buffalo will be sacrificed to Bhairavnath at Ga: Hiti, and worship will be performed by the Guthi Sansthan.

On the fourth day of the festival, a pole (a statue without hands) will be erected in the morning at Kumale Tole, and in the evening, another 55-foot-long pole will be erected according to Tantric rituals. The handless pole will be another attraction of the Biska Jatra. It will be erected on the New Year eve. 

On the fifth day of the Biska Jatra, which will coincide with Nepali New Year (Baisakh 1), large crowds of devotees will gather from early morning. On this day, locals will play various musical instruments, wear traditional costumes, and perform worship of Bhairavnath, Bhadrakali, Betal, and the pole.

In the evening, after worship, the pole will be brought down on the occasion of the Nepali New Year. After that, both chariots of Bhairavnath and Bhadrakali will be brought to Ga: Hiti from Bhelukhel and will be collided with each other as part of the ritual process. At Taleju, the Dumaju Devi Jatra will also be celebrated.

On the sixth day of the festival, processions of Mahakali and Mahalaxmi will be performed. On the seventh day, processions of Brahmayani and Maheshwori will be held. On the same day, the Sindoor Jatra of Batuk Bhairav and Jyatha Ganesh will also be performed.

On the last day of the festival, the Guthi Sansthan will perform the worship of Bhairavnath and Bhadrakali. The sword will be formally handed over to the priest of Taleju, who will circle the chariot of Bhairavnath several times to formally conclude the festival.

On the final day, a ceremony to bring down the pole will be held in the morning at Kumale Tole. In the evening, the Chhuma Ganesh Jatra will be held. On this day, the chariot of Bhairavnath will again be pulled from Ga: Hiti by the residents of Thane (upper) and Kwane (lower), as on the first day, marking the completion of the festival.