Yanyā Punhi

Yanyā Punhi  is a festival celebrated in Kathmandu, Nepal. The main attraction of the festival is the procession of chariots and masked dancers representing deities and demons.

Yanyā Punhi (Indra Jatra) is a holiday related to Hindu god king of heaven, Indra. The festival begins with the carnival-like erection of Yosin, a ceremonial pole, accompanied by the rare display of the deity Aakash Bhairab, represented by a massive mask spouting beer and liquor. Households throughout Kathmandu display images and sculptures of Indra and Bhairab only at this time of year. Finally, the Kumari, or virgin goddess (living goddess), leaves the seclusion of her temple in a palanquin and leads a procession through the streets of Kathmandu to thank Indra the rain god.  Yanya Punhi is dedicated to lord Indra, the king of heaven. This is a week long festival which begins after the erection of Yosin, a ceremonial pole. The main feature of this festival in Kathmandu is a week long display of gigantic mask of Aakash Bhairab and procession of Kumari, the living goddess along with other two living gods Ganesh and Kumar.

Gunhi Punhi (Janai Purnima)

Most of the Newar festivals have special foods to offer. Looking back at the festivals they celebrate, it is not so hard to find out that they celebrate every festival according the foods they produce. All the friends and families gathered around together and offer servings of the foods provided in different season in and they have different festivals for different foods they have. Likewise, the special menu for Gunhi Punhi is Kwati. Hence the day is also called Kwati Punhi, where Kwati is a soup of different beans and Punhi means the full moon day. Lots of Newars do put the yellow sacred threads around the wrists which are to be taken off on the day of Laxmi Puja, another festival in Tihar, about two months after this festival.

Composition of Kwati ( Traditional Soup )

Today, thousands of devotees worship Lord Shiva at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu and at Kumbheswor in Lalitpur and take holy dips in ponds and lakes. Religious fairs are held at Gosaikunda, an Alpine area in Rasuwa district, and at Dansangu Triveni in Jumla district to observe the festival with offerings of worship to Lord Shiva.

Gosaikunda

A big religious fair takes place at Gosaikund Lake. On the occasion, worshippers come from far places to take a ritual holy dip in the Gosaikund Lake and other nearby lakes.

According to time honoured tradition, people receive the "Rakshya Bandhan" thread tied around the wrist. The yellow thread is purified by the chanting of Mantras by Brahmins as a symbol of protection from fear and disease.

Raksha bandhan

On Janai Purnima, a full moon day, Bramhan ( High cast ) chant the powerful Gayatri Mantra and change their Sacred thread (janai), while a rakshya bandhan, a red or yellow protection cord, is tied around the wrists of other Hindus and Buddhists. Pilgrims journey to the mountains north of Kathmandu.

Gathe Mangal Chaturdashi

Gathe Mangal (or Ghanta Karna Chaturdashi)

This fun filled festival of the Newar of Kathmandu Valley falls during the month of July/August. It is associated with the exorcism of the devil Ghanta Karna or Gathan-Muga demon. Effigies of the demon are erected at street crossroads. People place pots of cooked rice at such intersections for him. A man wearing black and blue paint all over his body goes about begging for money. At the end of the day, the effigy is dragged to the nearby river bank for disposal with the painted man sitting on it. To get rid of evil powers and the legendry demons people have been worshipping and offering sacrifices to demons, serpents and other supernatural and natural elements like wind, water and fire since ancient times. Ghanta Karna was a legendry demon who spread havoc among the people. This festival is held to commemorate the death of that demon.

On this day, people also wear metal rings called gathemangalko aunthi. The ring is believed to have the power to safeguard people from all ills and evil spirits. Before nightfall, the locals hammer three legged nails onto the door lintels to scare away the ghosts. There are various legends and myths attached to the Ghanta Karna devil that is revered as well as feared.

Gathe Mangal is one of those typical Newar festivals of the Kathmandu Valley. The valley is a kind of melting pot where people from different regions following various customs and traditions have come together and settled down since ancient days. Kathmandu was an urban town and commercial center even in the medieval days. This could be the reason why people are found observing one or the other kind of festivals throughout the year in the Valley.

On the day children erect effigies of the demon- Ghanta Karna- at cross roads. The effigy is called Gathe Mangal and it is made of bamboo, branches of plants and dry maze plant. When somebody passes by the side of the effigy the children collect fax, called, Jagaat, from him in the name of Ghanta Karna. If anybody hesitates to give the tax the children being to shout calling him the grandson of the demon -"see the grandson of Gathe Mangal coming!" People offer the effigy food and meat. Girls offer their thresholds to get rid of the evil powers.

Sithi Nakha

As every country has its own festivals and way of observing them, these age-old festive-activities of course, form the culture of a country.

Thus, Nepal, being the land of heady mixture of unique culture, is also a nest of diversity where 70 ethnic groups with their own religious, cultures, languages and life-styles exist in harmony.

The peaceful coexistence of a multi-religious system and beliefs is one of the most fascinating aspects of Nepal.

Ethnic castes, festivals, social activities, traditional values are the lenses through which the culture of a country is brought into focus. Numerous festivals of Nepal show that she is rich in cultural heritage where festivals are dynamic, enthralling events for every foreign visitor.

Among those, Sithi Nakha (which is celebrated by the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley is to be celebrated on17th June- Thurs day this year)

Newar Community celebrated Sithi Nakha, traditional festival of the Newars by cleaning water sources just before the start of monsoon. Nakha by cleaning water sources like wells, ponds and stone-spouts and end it with a grand Newari feast of six different varieties of Newari food including Wo (fried lintel bread) and Chatamari (Nepali pizza). This festival is celebrated on the birthday of Kartikeya, son of Lord Shiva and Parvati, to welcome the rainy season. Houses, courtyards, streets and allies are also cleaned during this day. It is believed that cleaning such water sources will bring in rain for good cultivation of crops.

Jogi chakkar

Water tanks for travellers

Front view of water tank

Water Tanks for travellers

If we travel in sankhu we can find these kinds of stone tanks. As sankhu was the ancient trade route to tibet. At that time this place is the only route to easily get into tibet. So in some places of sankhu there must be water tanks and now a days also we can see the old sign of that. In above picture we can see the stone tank which is use to store water so that traveller can get water and fulfill your thrist during walking. In sankhu we can only find 3 water tanks in different part of sankhu. In above picture the stone tank is covered by cemented wall which is the modification.  In the lower part of the stone tank we can see a hole which is use to get water from tank. From back side water is kept inside the tank. Every morning the person who get up early put water inside as it is beleive that his or her desire will get fulfull if anyone fill the tank. So people used to get up early in the morning to fulfull ur wants.

Bishworoop at Chalakhu sankhu

This is the picture of god Bishowroop. This god is just next to the place where yoshin dyo is erected. This is the only face of the god. The whole statue is really beautiful and really well made. This is also one of the oldest statue in sankhu. The statue is in the small temple at Chalakhu tole sankhu.

Fall of Yoshin dyo

Removing pataka(the symbol of snake couple)

History of Bisket Jatra in Sankhu

The bisket jatra is celebrated in Bhaktapur and there is intimate relation with sankhu where some part of bisket jatra is celebrated on the same way celebrated in the bhaktapur. In sankhu also a symbol of serpants a big tree pole is stand in the memory of the dead snake.

Below picture shows the festival in sankhu is more than 400 years old. Some people of sankhu are trying to find the truth. So soon I will update about that.

( written about festival )

Biska Jatra (festival) Sankhu

(Yoshin dhyo sankhu)

Bisket Jatra is Bhaktapur’s greatest festival and goes on for nine days. The festivity starts off with a raucous tug of war at the city centre between two neighbourhoods trying to drag the triple-roofed chariot of Bhairavnath to their own side. A ceremonial pole called yosin is erected on the city out skirts. The two strips of cloth unfurled from the top represent a pair of dead snakes in whose memory the festival has been installed. “Bi” in Newari means snake and “sika” stands for death, hence the Bisika or Biska or Bisket festival. It is a very colorful festival where three chariots dedicated to Lord Durga, Ganesha and Kumari circle Bhaktapur city. Masked dances are organized and many local feasts are held. People from Patan and Kathmandu also observe this festival at Bhaktapur.

According to the legends the snake who died was a tantric from sankhu who helped the king of Bhaktapur in his war against other neighbour countries in ancient time. In sankhu also we celebrate the part of festival which is similar to bhaktapur. This festival in celebrated by king on the memory of the tantric who helped him. The picture belows shows the pair of snake which is similar to bhaktapur.

Bajrayogini festival end for this year

This year after spending 8 days in sankhu, goddess bajrayoni goes back to her place.  All the people of sankhu participate with joy and full of respect for Bajrayogini.

Details of Bajrayogini festival

The above picture contains about details of Bajrayogini festival. Its all about the 8 days festival details. Its in Nepali. Shortly it will be published in English also.

Today is the 7th day of the festival and known as Bau ya;. Today in the festival we give food for dead people, like ghost  so on. Today we can come and night stay at sankhu. But we are not allowed to go out from sankhu for night stay to other places..

When the Bajrayogini festival Started??

The Bajrayogini festival was started 3290 years ago. The festival is continusely celebrating every years for 8 days in Sankhu.  The Bajrayogini Festival continues from Chaite Purnima, Full Moon day that lies in March or April of the Gregorian calendar.The Bajrayogini festival shows the importance of religious activities. According to the ancient manuscript Manishila Mahabdan , Sankhu city was founded by the order of The Goddess Bajrayogini (Vajrayogini ) 3300 years ago.

The fire which lite after main day of festival. To lite the fire should bring from Bajrayogini temple. Inside Bajrayogini temple there is the fire which beleived liting from the time of the establishment of the temple.

Main day of Bajrayogini festival

Actually every day is important in Bajrayogini festival. But today we say mu; jatra. that means the main day of the festival. Today goddess bajrayogini is carried all around the sankhu on her chariot. Today is really the wonderful day. All the people of sankhu participate on carrying of goddess. Mainly youngsters participate on carrying of Chariot of Goddess Bajrayogini. They participate with full of energy.

Some moments as pictures from Bajrayogini festival.
I will post pictures of small size. If any body wants big pictures then please let me know through comments. leave email add.

Prime minister at sankhu

The most awaited sankhu mahotsav is started. Today the inagruation of Sankhu festival by prime minister Mdhav Kumar Nepal. More deatails will be available soon.

Bajrayogini Festival started

The greatest festival of sankhu is started. Every year this festival is celebrated for 8 days. This year this festival started from yesterday 30th March. During these 8 days we can see different kind of possessin of festival. As we see crowd in the festivals in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan  here in Sankhu also we can see crowd. Although the population of sankhu is lesser in comparison to those big cities we can see enough crowd. Besides Newar people of Kathmandu valley other people from different communites also celebrate this festival. The speciality of this festival is that the festival is not just celebrated by Newar people but also celebrated by Tamang community of villages near sankhu with joy and honor . They also support this festival as their own. In other festivals in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan we really can't see such full partipitation by the people of other community. Mostly the traditional festivals are celebrated by Newar peoples only but here we can see different community. That show unity of people of sankhu as well.

Sankhu Festival

Introduction and Programme

Sankhu (Shankharapur) is an ancient city. This is ancient city is located at the altitude of 1328 meters from the sea level and on east direction of Kathmandu 17 Kilometer far from the heart of kathmandu. This is a typical Newar Town. Mostly peoples are newars. And they have their own culture. Sankhu is an ancient but small too. The people of sankhu are mostly well civilized, and educated. At past also this place as well developed and as a country which as its own autonomus.

According to the legend and historic manuscripts, Sankhu village was created and settled for the service of Goddess Ugra Tara Bajrayogini by inviting residents of 7-8 villages in surrounding areas. Goddess Bajrayogini is the centre of beleive of thousands of Hindus and Buddhists. The main aim of the sankhu festival is to give information about sankhu and its all social and economical status to Nepal and all over the world.

something new

This year sankhu is going to celebrate SANKHU MAHOTSHAV ( Sankhu Festival).   The mahotshav is going to be held on the time of BAJRAYOGINI FESTIVAL(Jatra).  For the success of that mahotshav people from sankhu are participating meetings. The meetings are about how to conduct the sankhu festivals in better way. People of snakhu and  from around the sankhu are really excited about the coming sankhu festivals. They all want to make better so that we all can put forward the identity of sankhu to our periphery. As this is first time in the history of Sankhu. So we all are looking forward to the festival.

Shri Swasthani Brata Katha- at Salinadi

Shri Swasthani Brata Katha is a popular ritual observed in Nepal in the Poush month (January – February) during winter. The ritual is dedicated to Goddess Shree Swasthani, a Goddess known to grant wishes of her devotees. The month long telling of the tales are dedicated to the Goddess and the stories that are mainly narrated are those of Swasthani Devi, Lord Shiva other Gods.

Goddess Shree Swasthani is usually portrayed as a four-handed deity with charka, trishul, sword and lotus in each hand sitting at the center while Asta Matrika or eight deities of power – Mahakali, Baishanavi, Brahmi Maheswari, Kaumeshwari, Barahi, Indrayani and Chamunda painted around her.

It is believed that Goddess Swasthani helped Goddess Sati overcome her troubles after she burned herself at Daksha Yagam after hearing her husband, Lord Shiva, being insulted. As per this legend Goddess Swasthani helped Sati overcome the troubles and then to reincarnate and win over Lord Shiva as her husband again.

During Swasthani Katha, Hindu married women observe brata or fasting for the wellbeing of their husbands and unmarried women observe the Vrata in order to get a good husband. Women wear red colored clothes and bangles during the one-month period as it is believed that red is a sign of good luck. The Brata is observed for one month by some women.

The month long rituals associated with Swasthani Katha takes place on the bank of rivers. In Kathmandu the festival takes place at Salinadi, a river associated with the Swasthani brata katha, situated in Sankhu.  The holy river is know as Salinadi river where men and women worship Goddess Madhav Narayan.

During the holy period, in the morning or evening the Goddess is worshipped by family members, amid chanting of holy hymns from the book Shree Swasthani Brata Katha which narrates the divine leelas of Swasthani Devi. After the chanting of mantras stories are read by an elderly male or female member.

The stories mainly revolve around the theme – how some devotees due to ignorance take the side of Adharma and are later rescued by the Goddess. Some stories narrate who the goddess rescues her devotees. A major highlight in the stories is the prominence of Swasthani Devi over other gods in the Hindu Pantheon.

In the first few chapters of the 31-chapter book, episodes related to Lord Shiva’s wife Satidevi’s sufferings and her bearing them with courage and, eventually, Shree Swasthani rescuing her from her troubles and agonies, are explained.

During the Vrata period, after early morning shower the pooja of Shree Swasthani begins. In the evening chanting of brata katha or stories is a must. The routine shouldn’t break. It should go on uninterrupted for one month from the date of commencement. At the completion of chanting hymns, flowers and fruits are to be distributed among all those listening to brata katha.

On the concluding day of puja on a copper plate the holy symbol of Om is painted and a Shivling using mud is erected on it. Later, pooja of the Shivling takes place and this concludes the Shree Swasthani Barta Katha.

Most of people of sankhu have Swasthani Book in newar language with hand writtnen. So the story narration is little different in some places than new nepali language book.

Fasting at Salinadi

Salinadi Festival ( Before The Saptami)

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The Madav Narayan Bartra is the festival of fasting for one month long  is celebrating at sankhu salinadi. this is very famous Salinadi Mela. The total number of pepole fasting are 263. There are 239 girls and 24 boys.

During One month long festival all the devotes need to go various historical and other important shrine in Various part of Kathmandu valley; such as Pashupati Nath, Pharping, Panauti and Changu Narayan.

Above pictures are the part of Madhav Naryayn Mela.  Actually  some boys from the fasting have to roll all over the sankhu with their bare body on the special day known as Sapatami. These pictures are not from the main day. But they are practicing for the main day.