Every year, for the three-day festival, which begins on the full moon day of the full moon day of the month of Baishakh, locals decorate the Chandeshwari Temple and its premises in the northeastern part of Banepa city with paints and ornaments like a bride.
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The historical Chandeshwari Bhagwati Jatra, which is thousands of years old, has begun in Banepa town of the district on Friday. The Chandeshwari Jatra has been celebrated by the local Newar community for about 2,500 years.
For the three-day festival celebrated every year from the full moon of Chandi (Baishakh Shukla) month, locals decorate the Chandeshwari temple and its premises in the northeastern part of Banepa city with paints and varnishes. The first day of the festival, the festival officially began with worship at the temple from every household this morning.
Tonight, along with the sword (khadga) brought from Hanuman Dhoka, 12 goats will be sacrificed to the Ping deities inside the Chandeshwari temple and a 'government worship' will be held, and a Mat Puja (lamp procession) will be held to Jaleshwor Mahadev early in the morning, informed local Manish Bhochhibhoya. According to him, on Saturday, after a sheep is sacrificed to an empty chariot (khat) made in Tindhara, Banepa, local youths carry it along with various musical instruments and take it to the Chandeshwari temple chanting 'Lhaka Palun Ha'.
Local Bhochhibhoya said that it is a tradition to give more energy to the enthusiasm of those pulling and pushing the chariot while taking it to the temple by chanting 'Lhaka Palun Ha' from the windows of every house in the market. After the chariot is brought near the temple, the idol of Chandeshwari Devi is placed in the chariot after ritual worship. Similarly, the next day, while returning with the chariot, the prasad prepared in every house is offered to Chandeshwari sitting in the chariot from the window. It is customary to take Goddess Chandeshwari on a small chariot made of Tulsi wood and take it out for parikrama from the temple.
It is believed that this is the place where Chandeshwari killed the demon Bhandasura from Bakutol on the day after Purnima. Local writer Mohan Duwal said that there is a tradition of worshipping and offering sacrifices with a grand welcome for the chariot to be brought there. According to him, sacrifices have been made at various places since the beginning of the festival. The chariot is taken to the ancient Laiku Durbar and from there, the idol of Chandeshwari Devi is placed on another small platform and brought back to Bakutol. Similarly, on the third day, the idol is placed on a small platform and taken back to Chandeshwari in the afternoon, and the festival ends.
Throughout the festival, the elderly sit in the villages and sing bhajans in the morning and evening. The streets and alleys are crowded with people celebrating and watching the festival. Local elderly Ramchandra Shrestha informed that devotees come from far away to worship 'Chandeshwari Devi, who is considered the presiding goddess of power'. According to him, the devotees are very happy to join the procession and believe in 'getting what they asked for'. People who have migrated from Banepa to any place come to worship in the Chandeshwari procession, so it is believed that the procession here should not be missed.
'Houses here are cleaned according to the rituals of the procession. It is also proud that its importance has become more widespread since the government also performs the procession. According to religious beliefs and legends, about 2,500 years ago, after a long period of penance, the festival of the adorable goddess Chandewari Mai was celebrated in honor of the goddess who appeared in the form of Bhagwati and killed the demon king Chandasur, who had received a boon that no man could kill her, and saved the gods,” said Shrestha.
Stating that the importance of the Chandeshwari festival is great, organizations and schools in Banepa and the surrounding areas have been closed during the festival. Since the Chandeshwari festival has a direct connection with all the Newar communities of Banepa, including the local Manandhar, Bhochhibhoya, and Rajvakhak, this festival is taken with special importance.
