Celebrated since the time of the glorious Lichchavi dynasty, the Bisket Jatra festival ushers in the Nava Barsha (New Year) in Nepal the Newari way. Held in the ancient city of Bhaktapur in April, the festival marks the ancient solar Nava Barsha and is the only festival that does not follow the lunar-based Nepali calendar. The Bisket Jatra begins four days before the onset of the Nepali New Year and is celebrated for five more days afterwards. Bisket means 'Snake is
Celebrated since the time of the glorious Lichchavi dynasty, the Bisket Jatra festival ushers in the Nava Barsha (New Year) in Nepal the Newari way. Held in the ancient city of Bhaktapur in April, the festival marks the ancient solar Nava Barsha and is the only festival that does not follow the lunar-based Nepali calendar. The Bisket Jatra begins four days before the onset of the Nepali New Year and is celebrated for five more days afterwards. Bisket means 'Snake is killed'.
On the first day, the Jatra commences early morning, after a special Tantric ritual in the Bhairav temple in Bhaktapur – a priest offers prayers to the Bhairavnath deity – following which the deity is worshipped in the streets of the city. In the afternoon, idols of Bhairav and Bhadrakali (fierce manifestations of the Hindu god Shiva and the mother goddess Devi respectively) are placed in rathas (large chariots) and towed by devotees through cheering crowds.
During the festival, people re-enact a traditional drama passed down the centuries. The rathas pause for a tug of war between the eastern and western sides of town and then move down a steep road leading to a river, where a 25-m high lingam or lingo (wooden pole) with the god Indra's flag fluttering on top, is erected. The evening of the following day, the pole is pulled down, again in a tug of war; and as the pole crashes, the New Year commences.
The festivities conclude with several days of spiritually uplifting experiences, dancing, and merry-making.
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