Biska Jatra: Welcoming the new year
Summary
Biska Jatra, celebrated in Bhaktapur and other towns of Kathmandu Valley, marks the Nepali new year with vibrant communal rituals, traditional chariot processions, and intense devotional acts like tongue piercing.
Key Points
- Biska Jatra is an eight-night and nine-day festival marking the Nepali new year, celebrated predominantly in Bhaktapur and surrounding towns.
- Key rituals include raising a towering wooden pole called Yoshin Dyo, chariot processions of deities Bhairavnath and Bhadrakali, and communal communal pulling of chariots.
- In Bode, a unique ritual called Mye Pwa: Khanegu involves a man piercing his tongue with an iron spike as an offering for communal well-being.
- The festival features vibrant activities such as throwing vermillion powder, singing devotional songs, and carrying palanquins of local deities, bringing colour and devotion to the streets.
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