Ghatasthapana 2007

Ghatasthapana is the celebrated as the first day of the greatest festival of Nepal, Bada Dashain. The “Navaratri Parba” or the night nights festival of Bada Dashain also commences on the same day. The day lies on the first day of the bright half of the lunar calendar in the month of Ashwin or Asoj. This year it lied on 12th of October, 2007.

On the day of Ghatasthapana, all Nepalese worship Diyo (an oil-fed lamp), Kalas (auspicious jar), and Lord Ganesh, and the most of the people sow maize and barley seeds in a jar filled with soil which is brought from the river mostly containing sand and cow dung for germination of the auspicious Jamara (barley shoots). From today, prayers are offered to goddess Mahakali, Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati at the Dasain Ghar, and to all the Durga Bhawani goddess around the city, marking the beginning of the Navaratri. There are so many of shrines called Shaktipith where devotees will visit and offer their homage this dashain. Some of the main shrines are Naxal Bhagawati, Shobha Bhagawati, Maitidevi, Guheswori, Bhadrakali, Kalikasthan, Sankata, Mahankalsthan, Naradevi, Bijayeswori, Indrayani, Dakshinkali, Chamunda, etc.

A lot will be happening from today for the next 15 days. Each day has its own importance and values. I will try to review the each day and try to find out the main happening thing each day and importance of the day from hereforth. For now, it is Ghatasthapana, the first day of the greatest festival that happens on the Bada Dashain.

One more website to visit for my readers. Please view Santa Monica plastic surgery and send me the comments of what you feel of their services.

For promoting air travel many US Airlines are providing attractive deals for their customers. To get cheap airline tickets you can search through websites. The Emirates Airlines are unique travel experience for their customers. You can check airline rate before using their service and customer feedback can also help you. Reviews have ranked Allegiant Airlines as best airline service. Many companies have started airline self-service for satisfaction of their customers. However due to airline on-time statistics helped customer to use airline for their vacations.

Balaju Park (Bais Dhara Balaju)

Few decades ago, Balaju was not as beautiful as it is right now. It used to be just a village and not it has turned into a beautiful park, and there is quite dense population these days. You can get a tempo, microbus, bus, or even a taxi if you want a fast traveling with little more fare from National Theatre, Jamal. Well even if you like walking, within an hour, you will reach the destination as it is situated close to the outskirts of the northern side of Kathmandu. The industrial district around Balaju is the most important in the valley but it does not affect the quiet surroundings of the park in any way.

After you reach to the Balaju area, you will need to pay some cheap entrance fee to get inside the beautiful park. Lots of beautiful bamboos, trees, and varieties of flowers, ponds with fishes, and the twenty-two gushing waterspouts can be found inside the Balaju Park. The twenty-two gushing waterspouts also gave the park its name as “Bais dhara Balaju.” There is also a modern swimming pool where you can enjoy swimming in the sumer and a smaller image of the sleeping Vishnu at Budhanilkantha.

In front of the sleeping Vishnu a small, typically Nepalese, temple is flanked by a row of Hindu images including elephant-headed Ganesh, Buddha protected by the hood of a serpent and Bhagwati. A stupa-like structure shelters a many-armed goddess, unusual in a Buddhist stupa, and an image of Harihar – half Vishnu and half Shiva. The hands on one side hold trishul, a symbol of Shiva (weapon), while on the other side the hands hold chakra (weapon) and sankha, the sympbols of Vishnu. There is also a small phallical-shaped linga surrounded by four pillars and an image of the bullock Nandi. The site is not more than three centuries old but makes an interesting visit due to this curious juxtaposition of Hindu deities.

Dyochhen

In the ancient times, the activities of gods and goddesses were interlinked with human being, and somehow resembled too. Like normal people, they attended jatras, attended cultural functions, accepted offerings, and lived in a house. For every individual activity, human society created separate spaces for god whom they respected the most. House created for god and goddesses were named as dyochhen where dyo means god and chhen means house. Dyochhen existed in the society from earlier period in Kathmandu Valley, and it is thought that the "devakula" represented "dyochhen" and "digvara" represented "pigan"-"peeth".

In Malla period, "Gvara" represented "peeth". This word dyochhen exists till now though there is no longer the practice of constructing them in Nepal. This might be the reason why books that categories Nepalese temples often forget to include "dyochhen." I think the government should look upon these ancient monuments and try to preserve them as it is one of our national treasures.

Pashupatinath

Pashupatinath is the most famous temple in Nepal and is located on the route to Boudhanath. Although non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple, you can cross the Bagmati River and view the temple from the hill on the other side. Near the entrance you will see many people selling flower,s incense, and other offerings to be made to the deity. Inside is the golden pagoda and on the river banks you can sometimes see dead bodies being cremated on platforms. The Bagmati is a holy river and there is a burning ghat.

Pashupati means Lord of the Animals and nath means god. Pashupatinath is supposed to represent Shiva and the black image inside the temple has four heads. The temple itself is about three centuries old. It was renovated when the previous structure became decrepit. The idol is 600 years old, an earlier one was broken by Moslem invaders in the 14th century.

The big bull, Shiva’s animal (ride), inside the temple was built in the last century. The small bull in front of the temple is about three centuries old. The best time for visiting the temples is on Ekadashi, a day which occurs twice a day each month, 11th day of the full and new moon. On those days, there will be many pilgrims and a special ceremony in the evening called Arati characterized by the ringing of bells. There many also will be devotional music and illuminations. In the month of February, there is a big fair at the temple to celebrate Shiva’s birthday and another fair takes place in November.

Budhanilkantha

The image of “sleeping Vishnu” at Budhanilkatha is probably the largest reclining image of Vishnu in the world. To get there you can take a bus or alternatively you can travel by microbus or tempo through Bansbari, the site of a shoe and leather factory set up with Chinese assistance, and walk in about an hour. The energetic could walk all the way from downtown Kathmandu in a couple of hours or, best of all, ride by bicycle.

Vishnu, sleeping on a bed of snakes, is supposed to have been carved from stone in the 11th century. According to legend Vishnu sleeps continuously for four months of each year, failing asleep with the beginning of the monsoon and awaking when it is over. Each November thousands of pilgrims come here for a big fair on the day he is supposed to wake up. The name Budhanilkantha has nothing to do with Buddha.

Another legend tells of the discovery of the image. A farmer was tilling his field one day and was terrified to find blood coming from the ground at the spot where his plough struck something. An excavation revealed the beautiful image of sleeping Vishnu.

Prayers take place here every morning around 9 am but the kings of Nepal are never allowed to go near the image. Should the king, who is himself supposed to be an incarnation of Vishnu, gaze upon his own image, it is said that he would be cursed. A smaller replica of the image has, therefore, been constructed near the swimming pool at Balaju for the king to visit if he desires. There is also a school, built with British assistance, near Budhanilkantha – it is expected to become the best school in Nepal.

Gokarna And Sundarijal

A pleasant couple of hours walk in the vicinity of the Boudanath stupa will take us to the old Newar village of Gokarna, north of the Royal Game Reserve From Bouthnath take the road towards the reserve and turn left on to a dirt road after twenty minutes. Another twenty minutes’ walk will bring you to the beautiful three-storied temple of Shiva called Gokarneswor, Lord of Gokarna. The courtyard has an incredible collection of stone statues of deities from Hindu mythology such as Narad, Surya the Sun God, Chandra the Moon God, Kamadeva the God of Love besides the more conventional images of Shiva and Vishnu. Although they are probably only about a century old I have never seen such a collection in one place in Nepal.

After visiting the temple you can walk up to the village which is inhabited entirely by Newars and is surrounded by the game reserve on the three sides. Although the village is so close to Kathmandu the villagers are very poor and many do not even speak Nepali. There are deer, monkeys, and peacocks in the game reserve. It is a popular picnic spot for the people of Kathmandu and there is some entrance fee to enter the premises as well.

Further down the road are the waterfalls of Sundarijal at the edge of the valley; a pleasant bicycle ride down quiet roads.

Mahabaudha Temple Of Patan

The temple of thousands Buddha is about ten-minute walk from south of durbar square. It is slightly out of the way and you can have to ask directions as it is located in a courtyard surrounded by buildings and not easily visible despite its height originally constructed in 14th century, the terracotta, the Indian style was severely damaged in 1934 earthquake and later rebuild. Each of the bricks in the building contains an image of Buddha. Inside there is a shrine dedicated to Maya Devi, the mother of Buddha. It is said that this temple is similar to one in Boudhagaya where Buddha was enlighten. You can climb the buildings around the courtyard to photograph the temple and obtain a fine view over the rooftops of Patan.

Optional Extension Tour Of Bhaktapur (Bhadgaon)

I thought of excluding these tours but lots of my friends told me to include these parts of Bhaktapur as well as these places to have importance and I am sure anyone who are in Bhaktapur would never want to miss these places. So here is the review with the time span that is needed for visiting those places.

Extension Tour A:
Starting point: Durbar Square (30 minutes)
Take a small lane off Durbar Square to your right passing by typical to-day activities, continue until this lane bisects the main road. As you swing towards the left, you will pass the potters’ area where much of the activity – molding, baking, etc., - takes place in the street. Finally, passing by Talaku Math you will reach Taumadhi Square.

Extension Tour B:
Starting point: Dattatriya Square (45 minutes)
Continue through Dattatriya Square taking Bagiswori Lane. Pass Brahmayani Dyoche, Wakupati Narayan Temple, then the Navdurga Temple – traditional home of the Durga dancers, to Kwathaundau Pokhari, Kwathaundau Math, and as you approach the other entrance to Dattatriya Square, the Salan Ganesh Temple.

Extension Tour C:
Starting point Dattatriya Square (20 minutes)
Near the entrance to Dattatriya Square, as you enter, there is a lane off to your left. Following it, you will pass the Yachhe Ganesh Temple, Salan Ganesh Pokhari with Yache Ganesh Dyoche then Naag Pokhari, which will bring you to the main street near the Sukuldhoka Math.

A Perfect Tour of Bhaktapur (Bhadgaon)

I just found a page in my old magazine where they have maintained a plan of tour around Bhaktapur, formerly known as Bhadgaon, in a single page. I was thinking of writing a whole post about Bhaktapur, but was unsure if one post was enough for the whole tour. So this magazine will definitely help me to share the knowledge and guide my readers to Bhaktapur in just a single post to read.

Total time: 1.5 hours.
Starting point: Durbar Square

The “Golden Gate,” one of the Valley’s most extraordinary architectural masterpieces, built in 1754.

National Art Gallery houses Nepal’s finest collection of paintings also attached to it, exhibition of wood and stone carvings.

Palace of the 55 Windows, the former royal home of the Malla Kings has uniquely carved and decorated windows.

Temples:
Pashupati
Batsala
Radha
Krishna
Buddhist Vihar


Second stop: Taumadhi Square

Nyataola Temple built by King Bhuptindra in 1708 and dedicated to the tantric deity, Shiddhi Laxmi.

Bhairab Temple, three stories set on a rectangular base.

Narayan Temple with its beautiful carvings.

Aisamari Satal, this reconstructed building will house a modern restaurant catering to tourists.


Third stop: Sukaldhoka Square
This is one of the main local shopping areas where you can observe the daily life of the people.

Sukul dhoka Math in terms of wood carving and courtyard decoration is one of the most important Maths in Bhadgaon.


Fourth stop: Golmadhi Square

Golmadhi Hiti, a traditional stone tap.

Golmadhi Square has many examples of Newari architecture. Here too, you’ll find the hand-weaving center of Bhadgaon.


Fifth and Last stop: Dattatriya Square

Temples:
Dattatriya, a three-storied Rama-Shiva-Vishnu trinity temple built originally during the reign of Yaksha Malla in 1427.
Bhimsen Temple
Laxmi Narayan Temple
Pujahari Math with its beautifully carved peacock windows, now the office of the Baktapur Development Project.
Chikampa Math

Jangham Patti.

Taja Math, planned handicraft center.

Chikampha Math, 2nd floor exhibition hall.

Pujahari Math, 2nd floor will house a woodcarving museum.

End of Gunla 2007

The day after Gokarna Aunsi (father’s day) is marked as the end of the Gunla for the year. This year it was on 12th of September. I was so busy with my own world and work that this year, I couldn’t be in Swayambhu for the first time in my life. Throughout my years, I have loved going to Swayambhu, and Gunla is the main festival where lots of people go to Swayambhu throughout the month. It is such a shame that I couldn’t manage a single day to visit Swayambhu this year. I had made plans for more than three to four times but due to my tight schedule; I just couldn’t go there this year. I had never thought that I would miss going there this year.

On the last day, a huge crowd will be gathered in Swayambhu throughout the day. Lots of people visit and pay their respect to goddess Harati Ma on this day and the days throughout the months. Throughout the month, lots of people will go there with their own musical bands with full devotion to the deity. Since this is the last day, most of the people will visit the place and you see the Swayambhu hill covered with people from a long distance today. You will see devotees coming and going from the hills throughout the way of Swayambhu. The crowd is just overwhelming and something different to experience. Too bad, I miss it this year. Well I cannot do anything then regret it and hope and pray that I wont miss it next year.

Krishnastami 2007

In Hinduism, there are lots of them. Hard to believe but truth is that it is considered that there are 33 koti devata (330.000,000 Gods). According to the religion, every god has their own importance and have contributed something to the human being in someway. Most of the gods have their special day when they are specially worshipped. Lord Krishna, the dark god who taught warrior Ajuna the value of Karma in the Bhagwad Gita, was born at midnight on the eighth day of the dark moon of August (28th August this year). So that day is Lord Krishna’s day hence also called Janmastami (where Janma means birth and Astami means 8th day of the month).

The Krishna’s birthday is celebrated with lots of love and devotion by the devotees. Flocks of devotes gather around the Krishna Mandir at Patan Durbar Square on the preceding day. Krishna Mandir of Patan is a monument and was build on 17th century. So the men and women from gather around and sit in the vigil waiting for the midnight hour. Euphoric prayers and incantations fill the air, and small oil lamps are lit as a mark of felicitation and devotion to the deity. The Krishna Mandir will be full of devotees throughout the day where we can find lots of flocks coming and going on paying their respects and homage to the deity. Throughout the Kathmandu Valley, images of Lord Krishna are shown. Some of the images are carried around the city in the procession accompanied by joyous crowds of followers and musical bands.

Gai Jatra 2007

It was Gai Jatra, one of the other interesting festival, on August 29 2007. This festival is celebrated in the memories of the lost family member during the last year. The word Gai Jatra came from two words Gai (which means Cow) and Jatra (festival). It is also called Saparu in Newari language. The whole city streets are crowded with the parade of the families who have lost a member during the past year parade in a decorated cow around the city. Most of the people send a cow from their house and those who can't find a cow will send their kids dressed up as cows or ascetics and walk in procession along the festival route. Cow has a special place in the Hinduism. It is respected as a god and mostly a given the respect as to a mother. So this day, it is believed that the sacred animal helps departed souls to cross the cosmic ocean in their journey into the after-world.





Humor is another side of the festival. Comic dramas and street shows making fun of government officials are performed. People also roam the city dressed up like lunatics. Newspapers bring out special "mad" editions. From ancient ages people are allowed to demonstrate any critics this day, even when autocracy ruled Nepal.

In Kathmandu, the bereaved families proceed alone the festival route individually whereas in Patan, the participants gather at Durbar Square and then move out together. In Kirtipur, the Jatra starts from the night. Almost every won't sleep at night and on the Gai Jatra night a buffalo is sacrificed outside the Bagh Bhairav Temple. So I felt the Jatra as if it was a night-time Jatra.


The celebration in Bhaktapur is the most interesting one and I personally prefer going there if you want to see the true demonstration of Gai Jatra where there are tall bamboo poles, wrapped in cloth, and toped with horns fashioned of straw are carried around the city in memory of the dead. It seems like the whole city is taking part and all the city streets will be filled with the parade. It might be due to the narrowed streets there but all the city streets are found full on that day.

Janai Purnima (Kwati Punhi) 2007

The season of festival begins and today, August 28 2007, is Janai Purnima. Janai Purnima is the day when most of the Hindus change the janai. Janai is the sacred thread the men wear on their chests. Today is the full moon day and flocks of Brahmins (Hindu priests) can be seen at the holy river banks taking ritual dips in the river and offering ablution to the gods. As a ritual, they then change their holy threads and also tie yellow sacred threads around the wrists of the faithful.

name for this festival iThis day is also important for the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley. Then Newari is Gunhi Punhi. Most of the Newari 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.

In Patan, a richly decorated lingam, the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva, is placed in the middle of the Kumbheswar (Kwonti) pond. This place is located at one of the most popular places in Patan, called Bangalamukhi. It is believed that the pond is to be filled with the water from the holy lake Gosainkunda Lake. There is a well-like place situated there where the people believe that the water comes from the Goshainkunda Lake itself. This day, they have all the water collected in a pond situated nearby the well-like place. In Bhaktapur, a colorful procession known as Jujuya Ghintang-ghishi, a type of king's carnival goes around town in the evening.

Patan Durbar Square

Like Hunuman Dhoka Durbar Square of Kathmandu there is another Durbar Square in Patan or Lalitpur. Patan does lie in Kathmandu valley as well. The most beautiful place full of craftsmanship artifacts is the Patan is Patan Durbar Square. It is believed that it was ruled by Kirates, Lichchavis, and Mallas. It is another ancient Newari architecture of Nepal. There are many temples made by the Malla kings. It is also known as Lalitpur and Yela De in Nepal Bhasa language.

The Durbar area has magnificent crafts of wood, stone, and metals. The palace contains three beautiful chowks (open area created by the surrounding small old buildings) and beautiful garden. There typical Nepalese style of two- to three-storied buildings. Magnificent wood carvings of the gates and windows can be viewed with a beautiful pond built by Siddhinarshingh Malla which is believed that it has been used for the bathing of the royal family and royal priest.

Patan Durbar Square is full of the most artistic and architectural temples, images, and monuments. All these artifacts reveals the art of Malla period. It is indeed one of our country’s prosperity and prestige. The most famous Newar artists and master craftsmen like Arniko, Abhay Raj, and Siddhi Raj were all born in Lalitpur. The palace is surrounded by a number of shrines and dabalis.

Personally, it is one of the favorite place of mine too. Couple of months back, we used to play basketball every Saturday and then after our game we used to go there in our bikes and relax there and forget all our fatigue and exhaustion created by the game. We just gather our group in one of the temples where we sit together and watch the beautiful scenario and enjoy the view and then return back home with a sigh of relief and peace in our mind.

Kirtipur – Glorious City

The name Kirtipur is derived from Kirti which means Glory and Pur which means City. This is one of the other city along with Kathmandu which still remains isolated and unexplored. It is the city where my mom was born and she grew up there. Though it is not so far from Kathmandu it is still out of reach from the tourism activities. I still wonder why hasn’t anyone seen the glory of Kirtipur. I mean lots of other cities like Bhaktapur and Patan are overwhelmed with tourist but since my lifetime I haven’t seen any tourists roaming in the streets of Kirtipur. May be it is due to the fact that the city has less amount of land to cover and the due to its hygiene factor back some years ago. Kirtipur is spread in 14 hectares of land, and is located 5 km from the center of Kathmandu.

May be the history has something to do in regards to the popularity of Kirtipur as well. There are many stories of the battle of King Prithvi Narayan Shah back then when he was trying to unite all the small countries into one single Nepal. Amongst all Kirtipur was too tough to beat. Kirtipur back then was a small country ruled by a king and the kingdom was basically a hill where people lived uphill. King Prithivi Narayan Shah was defeated so many times due to the hill factor. It is said that people just captured lots of weapons of the Shah King back then, and amazing the tools or weapons the people of Kirtipur fought was only stones; big and small ones. They would just roll over huge stones over the hill and soon the Shah King troopers would have to retreat. Finally, in 1826 B.S. (Nepalese Calendar as Bikram Sambat) it was annexed to the kingdom of Nepal by King Prithvi Narayan Shah in his third attempt.

There are lots of beautiful landmarks situated in Kirtitpur amongst which Bagh Bhairav Temple is one of the most popular temple dedicated to God Bhairav in the form of a tiger. This god is regarded as the guardian of Kirtipur and the locals call it Ajudeu, a grandfather god. The three-storey temple is rectangular and the weapons like swords and shields are showcased in the front roof of the temple which are said to be presented by Newari troops after their defeat by Late King Prithivi Narayan Shah. Just some minutes walk over Bagh Bhairav comes Uma-Maheshwor Temple of goddess Uma (Parvati) and god Maheshor (Mahadev). This temple is at the tip of the Kirtipur and we can see most of the Kathmandu valley from here.

The other main glory of Kirtipur is Tribhuvan University which is the largest and the oldest university of Nepal and is situated in Kirtipur. The university was established in 1959 as the first university of the country. It is the largest university in Nepal with more than 150,000 students and faculty.