Khame Jatra: In Need Of Progressive Reforms
Summary
Khame Jatra in Bhaktapur remains a Dashain ritual centered on the release, procession, and sacrifice of a male buffalo offered to Navadurga. The writer calls for progressive reforms to make such traditions more humane while preserving their cultural significance.
Key Points
- Khame Jatra is an annual Dashain ritual in Bhaktapur in which a black male buffalo is paraded through the city and sacrificed at Brahmayani after tantric rites.
- The article explains the ritual’s mythological link to Mahishasur and describes the ceremonial treatment of the buffalo before sacrifice.
- The writer argues that cultural traditions should be reformed with modern values and urges humane treatment in rituals involving animal slaughter.
- Khame Jatra, Gadhimai, and similar festivals should undergo progressive reforms to preserve culture’s beauty and relevance for future generations.
