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Kumari Jatra In Kathmandu
Kumari Jatra In Kathmandu
KTM Reporter
September 6, 2017
Kathmandu: President, Vice-president, Prime Minister, Chief Justice and Chiefs of constitutional bodies, other high State officials, and chiefs of diplomatic missions were present at Basantapur to watch the Kumari Jatra in Kathmandu yesterday. After the president prayed to Living Goddess Kumari, Living God Ganesh, and Living God Batuk Bhairav, devotee volunteers pulled the ropes attached to the chariots to take the chariots to the southern part of the old Kathmandu.
These dignitaries used to watch the puling of the chariots the three living deities are riding on from the balcony of the gaddi baithak before the quakes damaged it making it unsafe for anybody. Yesterday, instead a large tent was pitched there for the elected high officials and others to watch the Kumari jatra.
Living Goddess Kumari rides on the three-tiered chariot with gold-gilded brass roofs, Living God Ganesh and Living god Bhairav on their respective single roof chariot. Living Goddess Kumari leads other living gods.
Dancing Lakhe and Tana-kishi clear of any evil spirits on the way for the living deities to pass. Some musical bands also lead the chariots. Devotees followed the chariots. After passing through the prescribed southern route, the chariots return back to Basantapur.
Living deities return back to their respective abode on the arms of the attendants, as these deities are not supposed to step on the ground outside of their homes. They have two more days: tomorrow and the day after tomorrow for outings in this year.
The Kumari jatra in other words Indra jatra is an eight-day event. Three consecutive days of pulling the chariots are the most important events. Eight consecutive days of Lakhe dance, Tana-kishi dance, and Bhairav dance are the features of the Indra Jatra.
Heavenly deity Indra with his extended arms remains on a high platform off-limit to anybody at the Maru Square for eight days. A highly knowledgeable Tantrik scholar caught Indra on his Tantrik net, and kept him for eight days for picking up the flowers without the knowledge of the garden who happened to be a great Tantrik, a myth has it.
Indra had to descend on the human world as the flower called ‘palija swon’ (parijat) not available in his cosmic domain required for his mother to offer to her deity. However, Indra could not escape from the Tantrik net and became the prisoner of the Tantrik.
When Indra did not show up even after a day, much-worried mother descended on the human world to see what happened to his son only to find Indra was bound up in a Tantrik net.
Mother negotiated with the Tantrik who wanted to have the rice crop without cultivation. Mother said, “that is not possible as it goes against the natural law; none of the Almighty could grant you rice without cultivation. One thing I can grant you is sufficient rain for rice cultivation.” Then, the Nevah word for rain became ‘waa’ means rice.
Indra’s mother is called “Dangi”. On the last day of Indra jatra, family members of deceased people in a year follow “Dangi” holding one another so that none of them missed the way hoping to reach the Indra’s domain for meeting with the souls of the loved ones. However, “Dangi” tricked the humans following her to remain at Indra-daha means Indra pond while taking a dip in the holy water before ascending on the Indra’ domain. Thus, the myth has it.
