Tokha Biska Jatra
Biska Jatra in Tokha is different from the one in Bhaktapur. It starts from the day of Pahan Charhe (पाहाँ चःह्रे) and continues until fifth of Baishakh every year. They put Yoshin Deo (य:सिं द्य:) (the long wooden pole) at Thane Lachhi tole (थनेलाछी त्वा:). On the last day of Chaitra, in the evening, around 7 to 8 PM, there’s a procession with Chandeshwori Devi and Sapantirtha Ganesh. Participants play dhimay (धिमें) and nyakhin bajaa (न्याखिं बाजा) during this time. The khat (palanquin) of Pinga Dyo: (पिगं द्य:) (Masaankali) is taken around the city and rested at its shrine. Similarly, Kothu Ganesh (कोथु गणेश), and Mathillo Ganesh (माथिल्लो गणेश) are also taken to its shrine.
On the first day of Nepali New Year, there’s a huge mela at Sapantirtha. People come early in the morning to take a holy bath and worship.
The next day, there’s a procession for Pinga Dyo. It goes around the Masaankali temple area and then stops at Bhutkhel pati (waiting place). After a few hours, they offer sacrifices and exchange offerings between the deities Kothu Ganesh and Pinga Dyo. Then, both the chariots are taken to Wamfal Tole (वाम्फल त्वा:) at Chhwase (छ्वास्). Later, it is taken to Haansal Chowk (हाँसल) after the Guthi Sansthan’s puja. Finally, all the seven palanquins (Kothu Ganesh, Mathillo Ganesh, Sapantirtha Ganesh, Pinga Dyo, Chandeshwori, Chandikeshwor Mahadev and Saraswati) are gathered at Taahaal (तांहाल) Chowk and end that day’s jatra at Tapa Lachhi (तपलाछी). In the Midnight Ya Pyankha (या प्याँख) is shown alongside Naag Pyankha and Devi Nritya.
On the third day of Baishakh, participants carry the palanquins around the city in the morning and rest them at Jaranchhe (जरन्छे) at around 11 PM. People from Tokha and nearby areas attend to deities, make offerings and sacrifices. In the afternoon at around 3 PM, they bring the Kumari at this place. Then they start the Sindhur Jatra. All the palanquins are taken to Saraswati Chaur and then to Narayan Pokhari for a ritual called Gahana Khojne Jatra (गहना खोज्ने जात्रा). Later, all the palanquins takes to the Bhutkhel at Pinga Dyo temple. Here the interesting thing happens as the Kothu Ganesh and Pinga Dyo: khat tries to hold all the khats together in their premises by obstructing them on the Mu Dhwaakha (मु ध्वाखा:), the main gate of Tokha. Later, by evening, all the khats are taken to the Kone Lachhi (कोनेलाछी). At midnight, Ya Pyankha is also shown on this day.
On the fourth of Baishakh, all the seven khats are carried and have a grand celebration at the Kone Lachhi. Then, the Chandikeshwor Mahadev and Saraswati khats are rested at Gachhen (गछें). At the same time, other deities are taken across the city and later only rested here. There comes an interesting ritual where the khat of Pinga Dyo is taken around Bhutkhel, where it is sought for the baali magne chalan (crop asking ritual), and the landowners give as per their desire. After that, all the seven khats are paraded across the city and rested on Gachhen. Later, at 2 PM, the Sindhur jatra started. While the deities are returned to their respective shrine, there’s a ritual of taking it with a Basala Bichhai (बसला बिछ्याई), layering of white cloth in its way. All the khats are queued in the Kone Lachhi for the Sindhur Jatra. In the end, Pinga Dyo:, and Kothu Ganesh are taken for three rounds across Yonshi Dyo and Narayan temple, while it way back to another Dyo: Chhen with the musical tone of Si Baja (सिं बाजा).
On the final day of Baishakh 5, the Yonshi Dyo is taken down with this the end of Biska Jatra for that year.
