The Jya:Punhi: Panauti Jatra
Nepal is a country with an incredibly diverse culture, and
festivals are an important part of its heritage. From colorful religious
celebration to unique local cuisine, there are numerous opportunities for
tourists to experience the cultural diversity of Nepal. From the ancient Hindu
festivals of Maha Shivaratri and Dashain to the Buddhist festival of Losar,
every year brings the celebration for locals and tourists alike. Lets get
to know more about “Jya:Punhi” popularly known as “Panauti Jatra”.
Panauti is a small Newari town situated 32 km from Kathmandu, the
capital of Nepal. This small beautiful town holds great importance since it is
home to centuries-old traditions, culture, and architecture. Panauti, situated
at the confluence of the rivers Punyamati and Roshi, has been regarded as one
of the important religious sites for centuries in Nepal. More than twenty
festivals are celebrated in Panauti each year and each has its own
significance. Among them is the three-day long Jya:Punhi or the Panauti
Jatra.
Although the actual procession in the Jatra lasts for three days,
the locals prepare and welcome the Jatra eight days earlier. The preparation
begins from the day of “Sithi Nakha”. Newars celebrate Sithi Nakha, a festival
where family members from all walks of life come together to worship their
“Kuldevta” (a family’s ancestral deity) and feast together.
Starting from Sithi Nakha, the locals in Panauti gather every
morning and go around the town in groups singing and chanting the names of the
gods. During the day, the locals perform necessary preparations by cleaning the
town, putting up decorations, and making chariots for the gods.
The ninth day of “Sithi Nakha” marks the first day of Panauti
Jatra. On the first day of Panauti Jatra, devotees take out goddess Bhadrakali
from her temple and send her to the temple of Brahmaini, which is said to be
her paternal home. On the second day, people worship all the gods and goddesses
around the town and host feasts in their homes.
The third day is the grand one, on this day the chariots of the
three gods Mahadev (lord Shiva), Bhairab (Manifestation of lord Shiva), and
Bhadrakali are collided. The chariots of Mahadev and Bhairab are dashed against
the chariot of Bhadrakali. The chariots are collided to represent the mating of
the gods and has an amusing lore behind it.
During the Jatra people visit temples around town and perform many
religious ceremonies in their home. Later they gather at the ground of Layaku
Darbar to celebrate the Jatra. Young men lift the chariots of the god and take
it around the town and collide the chariots as a ceremony. They throw Sindur (
Vermilion powder ) on one another giving another name to this festival “The
Sindur Jatra”.
For the Newari people and others residing in the town, the Jatra
holds significance beyond mere ceremonies or rituals—it is a manifestation of
faith. According to the mythology of the Panauti Jatra, a fascinating
phenomenon occurs each year. It is believed that during the Jatra, a thunderstorm
accompanied by rain takes place, symbolizing the homecoming of “Basukhi Naag”.
Remarkably, even if the day is initially sunny and clear, it miraculously rains
with a display of thunder and strong winds.
Bhadrakali is a fearsome form of the goddess Parvati. One day,
Parvati became furious with Mahadev (her husband) due to displeasure with his
behavior. So she started chasing Mahadev. Mahadev ran toward the Punyamati
river and hid under the water. He came out taking the avatar of Bhairab, the
formidable form of Mahadev, and started chasing Bhadrakali.
Bhadrakali fell in front of the Layaku Darbar. Then Bhairab and
Bhadrakali performed sacred sexual relationship three times. Again Bhairab
changed himself into Mahadev and performed intercourse three times with
Bhadrakali. In today’s time, the colliding of the chariots represents the
intercourse between the god and goddess.
In addition to the mythology of the Panauti Jatra, various other
tales surrounding the festival hold significant meaning. Among these is a
popular belief that highlights the festival’s importance for farmers. According
to this myth, people celebrate the Jatra with the purpose of invoking heavy
rainfall, which is vital for successful rice plantation.
This myth underscores the deep connection between the festival and
the agricultural community, emphasizing the crucial role that the Jatra plays
in their livelihoods. It serves as a powerful reminder of the interdependence
between nature and human endeavors, as farmers rely on the bounties of the land
and the support of divine forces to ensure a prosperous harvest.
What to
Expect During Jatra
The
Panauti Jatra provides tourists a unique opportunity to dive deep into the
ancient Newari culture. As a tourist, you can soak in the joyful ambiance of
the town and be a part of lively celebrations with locals. If you are
planning to observe the Panauti Jatra, mark your calendar from 2nd of June to
the 4th of June.
On
the main day of the Jatra, all the local businesses in Panauti are closed. The
center gets super busy. You will see chaos and crowd but all of it perfectly
falls on the right path. You will be able to observe the Jatra closely with the
locals and see many small engrossing ceremonies.
There will be
lots of small kiosks around the street to check out. If you have a local host
or friend you can get much more information about the Jatra. You can also
try the delicious Newari food.
Believers
consider Panauti a holy town where one’s wishes come true when they pray with a
pure heart. Make sure you visit Panauti to attend this Jatra on Jestha Shukla
Purnima on the 4th of June, and celebrate Jatra with the locals of Panauti.
Thank you kajal Aryal
