Gahana Khojne Jatra: Handigaun's Festival Honoring Goddesses hunt for missing jewels

Updated:2 years, 3 months ago

Kathmandu (Nepal), April 25 (ANI): Thousands of devotees in Handigaun, believed as the capital of Licchavi Dynasty in medieval age celebrated the festival of searching the missing jewellery on Wednesday. The Tudaldevi Jatra commonly known as "Gahana Khojne Jatra" translated as "A festival to search for jewellery" is celebrated every year on Chaitra Shukla Ashtami according to the lunar calendar. The festival is believed to have started from the period of Licchavi dynasty which ended in 750 CE (Common Era), which is considered as one of the golden age in the history of Nepal. On Wednesday, thousands of devotees stood on the edge of the Gahana Pokhari (pond) of Handigaun eagerly waiting for the arrival of Goddesses who later was toured round pond thrice signalizing search of missing jewellery. The festival goes on for a week, featuring goddesses touring round the ancient city of Hadigaun but the main day of the Jatra, the idol of Goddess Tudaldevi Baishnavi is placed on a chariot that is pulled from her temple at Baluwatar and taken through the ancient town of Hadigaun by devotees. On the way to Gahana Pokhari, the chariot is stopped multiple times at the doorsteps of the houses where red mud is painted in front. This is a symbol for the chariot to halt and devotees take their time to pay respects and make various offerings to the goddess. Scores of musicians playing Dhime and Nyakhin follow the two men and make three rounds. Following the lead of a man with a torch, devotees pull the chariot into the pond. They also take three rounds pulling the chariot deep into the pond. The main chariot is accompanied around the pond by another chariot of Goddess Mahalaxmi, the youngest sister of Tudaldevi, which is also called Manekhat.

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Gahana Khojne Jatra: Handigaun's Festival Honoring Goddesses hunt for missing jewels

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