Handigaun Jatra: A jatra like no other
Summary
The Chokkatthunarayan Jatra has begun in Handigaun, Kathmandu, bringing out three unusual wooden chariots representing Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar. The three-day festival is known for its distinctive upside-down temple spires and its unique place in local legend and cultural identity.
Key Points
- The Chokkatthunarayan Jatra began in Handigaun, an ancient neighbourhood of Kathmandu, a day after Kojagrat Purnima.
- The festival is known for three wooden chariots with temple spires at the bottom and deity images at the top, making it unlike other jatra processions in the Kathmandu Valley.
- Devotees gather as the chariots are turned and decorated with wax flowers during the procession.
- Local legend says the festival began after a woman promised to organise a unique celebration to appease Lord Narayana.
