Nagadesh Biska Jatra
The Celebration of Siddhi Ganesh
The Nagadesh Biska Jatra is a big celebration dedicated to Siddhi Ganesh, their principal deity. This festival lasts for two days, on Baishakh 1 and Baishakh 2. On the first day of the Nepali New Year, in the evening at 9 o’clock, they start the parade, called Bahanisiya Jatra (बहनीसिया जात्रा), from Lachhi Tole (लाछी त्वा:). Representatives from the Layaku (लायकु- old palace) of Nagadesh offer Dhanischa Swa-a kind of flower (धनिचास्वा:) and sindhur to Siddhiganesh, and then the locals carry the deity around the city. They bring it back to Lachhi Tole, ending the parade for the day.
The next day, Baishakh 2, the parade starts early in the morning. They follow the same route, followed by Bahakha Bajar and Bhimsen Chowk, and return to Nagadesh at Nyaa: Ga: Tole (न्या:गा: त्वा:) in front of Siddhi Ganesh’s shrine. This marks the end of the Biska Jatra for the year.
