Bhaktapur Biska Jatra
Bhaktapur is where the Newar community celebrates Biska Jatra for nine days and eight nights.
On the first day of Biska Jatra (April 9), a special puja takes place at Bhairavnath temple early in the morning. The priest of Taleju temple performs the puja and leads the chariot of Bhairavnath throughout the festival. Later in the day, at 3 PM, the Betal deity and Bhairavnath are taken out of the temples and placed on the three-story chariot of Bhairavnath or Bhaila Kha: (भैल: ख:). Similarly, Bhadrakali is placed on the two-story chariot of Bhadrakali or Nakinju Kha: (नकिन्जुख:). This event is known as Dyo Kwa Bijyakegu (द्य: क्वाँ विज्यकेगु ) in Nepalbhasa.
There is a clear distinction between the upper and lower areas of the city referred to as “thane (थँने)” and “kwane (क्वँने)”. During the Bhairavnath chariot festival, the chariot is pulled towards the lower side of the city, passing through Taumadhi, Bolachhe, Nasamana, and Bansagopal until it reaches Tekhapukhu. However, the tug-of-war or pulling of the chariots can sometimes be indecisive when carried out on the upper or lower side of the city. The locals and visitors alike participate in this excitedly with a loud cheering of “Hosse..Haise..Ha..Ha…”. The local residents from both sides try to take the chariot to their own places by pulling it. This becomes a prime attraction for visitors and devotees attending Biska Jatra. Many visitors participate in this with the belief that it brings good wellness in life. By late at night, the chariot stalls at Gahiti for that day, while the Bhadrakali chariot is taken to Bhadrakali Dyochhen (deity house) at Khala: Tole in Gahiti.
The start of the day is accompanied by a lively and vibrant atmosphere, which continues for eight nights and nine days. On the third day, Guthi Sansthan offers sacrifices for Bhairavnath in Gahiti. The meat from the bali puja (sacrifice) is distributed to the people of Lakulachhen as Prasad, and it is known as Syakotyako.
On the fourth day of Chaitra, which marks the end of the new year (April 12), the Lha maru Yonshi (ल्हामरु य:सिं) is raised in the morning at Talako Tole (Pottery Square). Another Yonshi (य:सिं), the 55-hand-long pole, is raised in Yonsikhel. It is called Yonshi Thanegu (य:सिं थनेगु) in Nepalbhasa. In the evening, after the deities are enshrined in the chariot, the Bhairavnath is pulled down to Yonshikhel along with Bhadrakali, which was previously stranded in the middle of Khala: tole. Once the deities are dragged on the Yonshikhel, the Yonshi is erected with great celebrations. Eight ropes are used to raise the Yonshi, which is considered to be the symbol of Astamatrika (अष्टमातृका— eight mother goddesses). The Halipata (हलिं पता:), which are two long banners, display images of Astamatrika and are exhibited down from the Yoshin pole. This symbolically represents Navadurga Devgan.
On the fifth day of Biska, the Yonshi falls on the first day of the New Year in the late afternoon. It is called Yonshi Kothegu (य:सिं क्वथेगु) in Nepalbhasa. After this event, there is a tradition of colliding the chariots of Bhairavnath and Bhadrakali in the Khala: tole, also known as Dyo Lwakegu (द्य: ल्वाकेगु).
On the sixth day of the Jatra, there is a procession of Mahakali and Mahalakshmi, and on the seventh day, a procession of Brahmayani and Maheshwari takes place. The eighth day of the Jatra is dedicated to Sagun Puja for all the gods and goddesses in Bhaktapur city. People wear traditional dresses, and Baja Khalas (बाजा खल— musician groups) and puchah (पुच:— groups) participate in the yatra by visiting different deities. This day is known as Dyo Sogan Biyegu (द्य:स्वगं बियेगु).
On the last day of Biska Jatra (April 17), early in the morning, there is the ceremony of bringing down the Lha Maru Yonshi (ल्हामरु य:सिं क्वथेगु) at Talako Tole. In the late afternoon, the jatra ends by pulling the chariots of Bhairavanath and Bhadrakali. This day is known as Dyo Thaha Bijyakegu (द्य: थाँहाँ बिज्याकेगु). The chariot is pulled towards the upper side of the city passing through the Kwachhe, Sakotha, Sukuldhoka, Golmadhi, and Inacho. Finally, the chariot is pulled to Taumadi, in front of Bhairavnath, where the deity is taken out and put back in the temple. The deity of Bhadrakali is also taken to her god’s house.
