Tales of Bir Betal
A Strong Devotee of Bhairav
A notorious kid aged 13 who appears to be at the forefront of the chariot of Bhairav witnessed at Biska Jatra is none-other than Bir Beetal. He is known as the (Bahan- carrier) right-hand caretaker/bodyguard of Lord Bhairav who came into existence out of nowhere and appears as a child who has taken responsibility to take care of Bhairav. He is one of the most powerful and troublesome kids after the Lord Bhairav who after all is the follower of Bhairav who troubles every visitor to the temple.
During the festival despite the constant effort and energy of the mass the chariot doesn’t move a single inch and according to folklore shared by elderly people, all that depends is on the mood of Betal. The Betal is known to be steering the chariot and the movement depends on his mood. The bells are known to rejuvenate and awaken him to lead the chariot as per his wish. These bells known as “Ghanghla” that leaves its Dyo Chhen: (द्य:छें) along with the God Bhairav and Betal are one of the interesting parts of the festival. These bells hung on the curved wood known as Beta Sin: (बेता सिं) to energize the Bir Betal who is the driver of the chariot mythologically.
Bir Betal is always tied up flipside facing the floor for his “chulbuley” behavior to be precise and elderly people abstain to remark this behavior as “Badmas” as he appears to love the people of Taumadhi and vicinity while troubles every visitor/ worshiper to Bhairav. He will always be a child and not perform Bratabandha and the caretakers of Bir Beetal wouldn’t have Bratabandha procession.
While I grew up I listened to his story about who would pull down the visitors from the stairs, harass the worshippers, and mostly problematic to the ladies. According to folklore, Bir Betal used to come to play at Pu Bahal:, a chowk right infront of Bhairavnath, the Pu Bahal: is his favorite place to play so it is where his statue is given the life below Dhaubhadel’s Aangan. His statue is made from the timber of Neem tree and later covered by Brass and gold plated. Since his favorite is Samaya Baji (समय् बजी), he would come to Pu Bahal: whenever he gets the aroma of the Samaya Baji being cooked. First samaya baji would be offered the day after the Dyo Kwa Bijayegu (द्य:क्वाहाँ विज्याकेगु) by Dhaubhadels in the past but this practice has been long gone after the procession of the chariot pulling is continued to the early morning the following day.
After Bir Betal is untied from the Aangan of Betal (where he is tied and resides beside the Bhairavnath Temple), he is carried and taken to the Dabu right in front of the Nyatapol known was Beeta Dabu which is congruent to the circumference of the base of Gajur (Pinnacle) of Nyatapol. That is where he is bathed before placing and tying him in the chariot where is given a make up by Rishi Timila, a local who has been doing the tradition after the death of Keshav Dhaubhadel who would take care of preparing Betal to be placed on the chariot since decades. If we look into the past and wonder how must have the gajur been placed in the past with no cranes existed to this date, it is known as the powerful Beetal was the one who carried the gajur to the top all by himself. It was known that while Nyatapol was being built, all the volunteers with over 28,000 people lent hands and during the time of feeding the volunteers, Bir Betal would come at the front and feed himself and vanish during the work thus people reported the king of his mischievous behavior but king would share that day will come when his deed will be of greatest feet.
These bells that leaves its Dyo Chhen: along with the God Bahirav and Betal are one of the interesting parts of the festival. These bells hung on the curved wood known as Beta Sin: to energize the Bir Betal who is the driver of the chariot mythologically. Despite the constant effort and energy of the mass the chariot doesn’t move a single inch and according to folklore shared by elderly people, all that depends is on the mood of Betal. The Betal is known to be steering of the chariot and the movement depends on his mood. These bells are known to rejuvenate and awaken him to lead the chariot as per his wish.
Text by Youbesh Dhaubhadel
