People in Nepal are offering prayers and worship to the Sun God. The Chhath festival is an occasion for human beings to express their gratitude to nature.

The main rituals of the festival are observed over a period of four days including the Arba-Arbain, Kharana, Offering Argha to the Setting Sun and Offering Argha to the Rising Argha.

Today, devotees are observing the Arba-Arbain ritual, also called Nahaya-Khaya. On this day, devotees don’t eat meat, fish, onion, millet and yellow lentils.

They take holy dips in ponds and rivers early in the morning and begin fasting.

Second Day – Kharana

On the second day or Panchami, Nepalis observe the Kharana ritual, which is performed to wash away an individual’s sins.

As part of the rituals of the Kharana, devotees cover the place of the Chhath rituals with a mixture of cow dung and water. A paste of Arba rice flour and water is sprinkled all over the place and the altar for the Puja.

Devotees observe a full day fast (including water) and later offer payas – a rice pudding to the moon after moon rise.

Third Day – Shasthi

The third day or Shasthi is observed by preparing delicacies made from ground rice and wheat flour. All the members in the family are supposed to go to a water body such as a ponds or river and offer various offerings including traditional delicacies such as bhusawa and khajuri, fruits and other articles, while singing devotional and folk songs.

Before giving the offering, devotees have to prostrate five times on the spot. This is followed by the drawing of the aripan in line with the tantric rituals. The devotees then enter the water bodies and pay obeisance to the setting sun.

Fourth Day – Parvan Rituals

On the fourth day, devotees go to the bank of the pond or river and conduct the same rituals of the previous evening and offer argha to the Sun God. Following this ritual, they listen to a priest chanting the Surya Purana scripture and the Chhath fasting.

The Chhath festival also celebrates the Chhathi Goddess. The festival was earlier celebrated only in the Mithilanchal region but now is celebrated all across Nepal.

According to oriental philosophy, human civilization developed on the banks of rivers and the sun and water of the five elements have played a crucial role in the sustenance of human life.

The Chhath festival pays a tribute to all the five elements.

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The tika is symbolic of a sister’s wish for her brother’s happiness, long life and prosperity. In return, brothers pledge to protect their sisters from all kinds of adversities.

The auspicious time for offering tika this year is 11:55 AM and will continue until sunset today, said National Calendar Determination Committee Professor Dr Ramchandra Gautam.

As part of the customs for this day, brothers receive tika from their sisters in a special setup surrounded by mustard oil. Besides the tika, sisters also offer Dubo and Makhamali garlands, sweets, dry fruits, spices and Sel – a special Nepali bread cooked in oil.

According to legend, a sister had a won a boon from Lord Yamaraj – the God of Death that her brother would not die until the mustard oil dries up and the Dubo and Makhamali garlands wither away.

Bhai Tika is celebrated with much fervor in Nepal. Even people who do not have their own siblings perform the tradition with people whom they look up to as sisters and brothers.

Nepali Sansar wishes its readers a Happy Bhai Tika!

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Like all other heritage sites in Nepal, the religious site built in the Malla era was damaged in the 2015 earthquake.

The National Construction Authority (NRA) issued a press release stating that the Balgopaleshwor temple would be rebuilt in the Malla era’s traditional granthakut style. The temple was originally built in granthakut style by the then Malla rule King Pratap Malla in 1670.

“All structures built at Rani Pokhari will the given the Malla-era look,” reads the NRA press release.

Kathmandu locals, especially the Newars were demanding that the temple be built as per the former Malla-era design. They also wanted that the Ranipokhari surrounding the temple be built in granthakut style for which a 11-member committee offered suggestions on the reconstruction model at a public hearing in January, 2018.

Balgopaleshwor Temple History

The original construction of the Balgopaleshwor temple was displaced by the 1934 Nepal earthquake, after which it was reconstructed in the gumbaz model by the Rana rulers.

Even before the earthquake in 1934, the temple received changes to its original design by Jung Bahadur Rana in 1905.

In 2018, the iconic Krishna Mandir was fully restored and opened to public on the occasion of Krishna Ashtami.

Related Articles:-

• Ranipokhari Construction to be Completed By Tihar
• April 2015 Earthquake: Restoration of Nepal Heritage Sites Begin!

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The Janai is a sacred cotton string, which is worn by Hindu men around the chest and is only given to males during a religious ceremony called ‘Bratabandhan‘. Bratabandhan is a formal process of bringing an individual into Hinduism.

The Janai marks the beginning of a male’s journey from boyhood to manhood, reminding them to devoutly follow their religion. It is considered as a symbol of body, speech and mind.

Janai Purnima is usually observed in the month of Shrawan.

On this day, people visit Shiva temples to participate in worship. For families, it is a time of togetherness and a time to relish the taste of Kwati (sprouted lentils).

The day is also important to ‘Shamans’, who gather from around the country to perform ancient rites in holy sites such as Patan’s Kumbeshwar, Langtang’s Gosaikunda and Dolakha’s Charikot.

At Khumbeshwar, religious heads place a richly decorated Shiv Lingam on a raised platform in the middle of the pond for devotees to worship Lord Shiva.

On the full moon day of Janai Purnima, a large number of Brahmins visit holy riverbanks where they take a dip in the water to cleanse themselves. After this, they change their threads. Brahman priests also tie a yellow thread around the wrists of the faithful.

In another ceremony Byan-ja Nakegu that takes place on this day, people offer rice to frogs as token of gratitude for good rains.

Newars in Kathmandu Valley recognize this day as Gunhi Punhi and prepare the traditional Kwati dish as part of the celebrations.

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Nepalis worship snake deities carved in wood, silver, gold or stone by pouring milk on them. Nepalis also post pictures of Naags above the doors of their home to ward off evil. They offer a white color liquid made of rice paste, symbolic of milk to the snakes.

People keep milk for snakes near snake holes and in their fields. People make cotton garlands, use cow dung or rice flour to make a serpent and then worship it with cow’s barley, milk, lava, nuts and sesame along with other religious items.

Some men wear demon masks and dance in the streets as part of the Naag Panchami tradition.

Devotees celebrate the day with the belief of different legends:

The Legend of Patal Loka- Abode of Snakes

According to legend, the snakes live in their abode Patal Loka. On this day, devotees call upon them to receive their blessings and welfare for their family. People believe that if Naag Panchami is observed correctly, then the Naags will provide them with good health, wealth and blessings. If they are angered, then they will make them sick, where no medicine can bring healing.

The Mahabharata Legend

Janamjeya, Kuru dynasty’ King Parikshita’s son avenges his father’s death (caused by Snake King Taksaka’s bite) by offering a sacrifice of snakes called Sarpa Satra. The sacrifice was so powerful that all the snakes of the world including the Snake King and the King of the Gods Indra were going to be drowned in the sacrificial fire.

For fear of this, the gods then went to Goddess Manasa to stop the sacrifice. The Goddess then sent her son Astika to bring the situation under control. Astika, with all his knowledge of the Shastras impressed Janamjeya who granted him a boon. Seizing the opportunity, Astika then asked him to stop the Yagna (sacrifice). The Nagas were saved on that day and that’s why Nepalis celebrated Naag Panchami.

The Legend of Shesh Naag

According to the holy Puranas, the earth rests on the head of Sesh Nag, inside whose coil Lord Vishnu sleeps. That’s why people worship snakes.

Naags Help in Providing Rain

Scripture also says that Naags help in bringing rains. Due to this, people worship Naags by offering milk and honey and pray to them for water.

Nepali Sansar wishes you a Happy Naag Panchami!

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June 09, 2019 has been fixed to display the bhoto (a jewel-studded vest) of Lord Rato Machhindranath – the God of rains and good harvest.

A group of four astrologers from the Joshi community have fixed the auspicious date.

The Machhindranath chariot will be towed from Lagankhel to reach Jawalakhel for the festival on June 09, 2019.

Background of Bhoto Jatra

Bhoto Jatra marks the end of the month-long celebration of Rato Machhindranath Jatra. The festival surrounds the tradition of displaying a diamond-studded vest at the time of the Rato Machhindranath festival.

The vest was presented to a healer-farmer who had cured the snake king Karkotak’s wife of her eye ailment. The farmer’s newly-earned reward drew a lot of attention from everyone. Unfortunately, one day the vest was stolen by a ghost who refuses to let go of his newly-earned position.

After a long chase and much pursual, the two reached the wide plains of Bhaktapur where the Rato Machhindranath festival was taking place and people were pulling a chariot. The argument between the two caught the attention of the then King Gunkampdev, who was very just and kind.

He gave both the parties a chance to present their side of the story and claim the Bhoto. Ultimately, he demanded that both the farmer and ghost present a strong proof on who the vest belonged to. Until then, the king decided that the vest will remain with the priests of the Rato Machhindranath chariot.

Despite the farmer’s request to the snake king, he didn’t come to stand witness for him before the king. The priests waited until the last day and kept displaying the vest for someone to own it up. But no one ever claimed it.

Hence, this tradition continues till date.

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The Nepal Calendar Determination Committee Chairperson Prof. Dr Ram Chandra said that ‘11:55 AM’ is the auspicious time for putting and receiving ‘tika’.

However, it can be observed until sunset on this day, he added.

Bhai Tika Tradition
On the occasion of Bhai tika, sisters make their brothers sit in a special place bordered with mustard oil. They then adorn their brothers’ foreheads with colorful tika and put them garlands made of Dubo (a grass variant) and Makhlami flower (globe amarnath).

Following this ritual, sisters offer the traditional Bhai tika treats including sweets, walnuts, spices and sel roti, a traditional Nepali food made from rice flour.

Brothers also put tika their sisters and wish them happiness & good luck. After this, they give them presents.

Folklore Behind Bhai Tika
According to the legend, a sister wins a boon from ‘Yama’, the God of Death, wherein her brother would not die until the mustard oil dried up and the garland of Dubo and Makhlami shriveled.

Sisters put these garlands on brothers to ensure their long life just like the long life span of the elements in the garland. They are also signify the unending bond of a brother and sister.

Nepal observed Goru, Govardhan and Mha pooja on November 08, 2018 which is highly significant to Newari community.

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