Maharjan's Photography: Culture

Shree Pachali Bhairav Khadga Siddhi Jatra (Gathu Pyakhan), which is celebrated once every 12 years in different places of Kathmandu comes to end on this 12 June, 2012. It is known as "Barha Barse Pachali Bhairav Khadga Siddhi Jatra" in local Nepali language. The traditional festival of 12 years Pachali Bhairav Jatra comes to the end for this year by burning the masks of gods and goddess worn by impersonators of god during the festival.

In this dance 13 different Hindu goddess mask dance is performed. People offer different pujas and offering in this ceremony. Animals like ducks, goats and buffalos are also sacrificed in this festival as "Bali Puja." Names of all god and goddess 1. Mahalaxmi (orange, three eyes); 2. Ganesh (white, three eyes); 3. Bramhayani (white, U shape tika); 4. Rudrayani (white, three eyes); 5. Kaumari (red, marks on cheeks); 6. Narayani (green, U shape tika); 7. Barahi (red, pig's nose, eye tika); 8. Manamayju (Indrayani, horizontal eye tika); 9. Kali (blue/red, wrinked face with eight points); 10. Bhiarav (blue, big eyes, big face); 11. Singhini (white, lion-faced); 12. Bhangini (orange, tiger-faced); 13. Swait Bhairav (white, looks like Shiva, comes out only occasionally).

पचली भैरव गथु प्याखंको अन्तिम दिन .........

श्री पचली भैरव १२ बर्षे खड्ग शिद्धि जात्राको अन्तिम दिन दलाछीको (भोछें ननि बहाल) मा शि:जा (मृत्यु भात) ख्वाई मरूको थशा हिति (थाडो धारा) मा मृत्यु जल ख्वाई कास्थमंडप घुमाई पचली पीठमा लगि मूर्छित देवगणहरुलाई गूरु द्वारा उठाई सके पछि नाचका सबै खलक बसि पूजा गरी बोकालाई आधी घांटी रेटि एक बर्षे नाचमा कसैलाई थाहा नदीइ पैशा अथवा अरु केही हिनामीना गारी खाएको भए यही बोकाको गति भई मृत्यु वरण होस भनि किरिया खाई सके पछि सबै देवताहरुले आ -आफ्नो मूकुट बोकी टेकू डोभानमा सबै मूकुटहरुलाई एकचित गरी पचली भैरव भई नृत्य गर्ने ब्यक्तिले दाग बत्ती दिएर जलाएपछि नाच अन्त्य हुन्छ !

1. Bhairab entering in Dalachein (Bhey Chen Nani Bahal)

2. Ganesh entering in Dalachein (Bhey Chen Nani Bahal)

3. All the God and Goddess performing dance in the Festival

4. All the God and Goddess performing dance in the Festival

5. Mahalaxmi performing dance in the festival

6. Rudrayani performing dance in the festival

7. Rudrayani performing dance in the festival

8. Kumari performing dance in the festival

9. Kumari performing dance in the festival

10.

11. Barahi giving food gains (Prasad) to the Devotees

12. Kaumari performing dance in the festival

13. Bhairab enters into the bahal for the final Si: Ja [(शि:जा) मृत्यु भात)]

14. Kaumari enters into the bahal for the final Si: Ja [(शि:जा) मृत्यु भात)]

15. God and Goddess offered Si: Ja [(शि:जा) मृत्यु भात)]

16. After having Si: Ja [(शि:जा) मृत्यु भात)] God and Goddess were carried by Devotees on their shoulder.

17. Devotees carrying Mana Maiju on the Shoulder

18. Devotees carrying Bhairab on the Shoulder

19. Devotees carrying Barahi on the Shoulder

20. Devotees carrying Narayani on the Shoulder

21. Devotees carrying Bramhayani on the Shoulder

22. Devotees carrying Mahalaxmi on the Shoulder

23. Bhairab offered Pure water (मृत्यु जल) at Kastamandap

24. After having Pure water (मृत्यु जल) at Kastamandap, Devotees carrying Bhairab on the Shoulder

25. Devotees seen during the last day of 12 years of Pachali Bhairav jatra in Jaisidewal Temple at 2:45 AM.

26. Devotees carrying Barahi on the Shoulder

27. Bhairab got unconscious at the home of Pachali Bhairab inJyabahaal.

28. All the god and goddess brought at Pachali Bhairab Temple and removes mask from impersonators of god.

29. All the god and goddess brought at Pachali Bhairab Temple and removes mask from impersonators of god

30. All the mask of God and Goddess puts in state of Pachali Bhairab Temple for further Puja Ceremony.

31. After all the process of Puja ceremonies, impersonators of god carried their mask for further process.

32. After all the process of Puja ceremonies, impersonators of god carried their mask for further process.

33. After all the process of Puja ceremonies, impersonators of god carried their mask for further process.

34. All the mask of god and goddess comes to the end for this year by burning the masks of gods and goddess worn by devotees during the festival

35.All the mask of god and goddess comes to the end for this year by burning the masks of gods and goddess worn by devotees during the festival

36. All the mask of god and goddess comes to the end for this year by burning the masks of gods and goddess worn by devotees during the festival

37. After the mask burn priest and impersonators of god puts sand and water on it.

38. After the mask burn priest and impersonators of god puts sand and water on it.

39. After the mask burn priest and impersonators of god puts sand and water on it.

Panauti Jatra (Jya: Punhi) Festival celebrated in May/June month of every year. During the festival Goddess Brahmayani and God Mahadev are taken out on different temples carried on shoulder poles whereas God Bhairab and Goddess Bhadrakali are pulled on chariots and rotated the different places of Panauti.