Nhayaegu Jatra (Carnivals of Seven Village) ~ Kirtipur., Kathmandu

Have you ever feel like being connected to a place 

with 

the people.. the culture.. the voices..

like you have know them form a long ages..??

Every thing feels like you have experienced it before and  you've seen it all..

well i did.! and yeah.! it felt like Home..!!

Is it maybe because my great grand father were from Kirtipur., 

but again i ask my self is that possible.?

well every place i walk in, every turns i make, every people i talk to and every faces i see

it feels like i've been here before and everything feels familier

and i cant get enough of this place no matter how many time i visit here

Crazy right.! 

 yeah.! i feel the same.!

(The following are my experience that i share with you and the info about the carnival is stated at the end of the blog., as i asked the officials and the residence of Kritipur)

Wooden Carved Window in the courtyard of Layaku, Kirtipur

It was Sunday night when were having dinner my grand mom talked about the carnival that was scheduled Monday the 1st Dec. 

I was so eager about it as it was all about Kirtipur

The next morning i rushed all the way to Kirtipur, not knowing where the festival really started

well i walked all the way up the allies of Kirtipur and as i followed the crowd

i reached to the place where they were preparing the palanquins

there were two of them

People were dancing in the tune of the cultural music

ah.! it was pleasant to watch

Enjoyment and happiness can be seen in the faces of every one out there

This is the first palanquin is saw

 

 All they did was carried the palanquin and drived it up and down and it was fun to watch.

Every one were just enjoying and the place really seems like a carnival,

a carnival filled with happy spirits

 

 

 They carried up the ally and then they stopped there for some puja and offering to the deity on the palanquin followed up by a long bugal like musical instrument called "Kaah"

Flag of Nepal on the top of the Palanquin

 

The festive mood was on the high tone all around the place and people were just enjoying the fullest

you can see it in his face.. picture speaks it self

Then the palanquin is again carried and driven all the way through the ally of Kirtipur

unique musical group of two called "Devakhii Baja"

oh.! yeah.! here it is..

 

Its again settled in the courtyard for offerings and refreshments

and for refreshments guess what was there

"Thooh" and "Aiyla"

dang.! my moth was watering..hehe.. :D 

Her smile made my day

not an effect but it was the camera move that made this pic.. beauties. arent they.?

Rest or Hangover.. ah.! Rest..

first monochrome effect of the day.. titled "Lost in the Smoke"

The Deity. Lord Indrayani

 They took off again

 

 TaaMa offering "Aailaa" to the vounteers

priceless smile

The small palanquin of Lord Ganesh was carried by the little kids.
Hats off to them.. man they were a pack of tough brats

they carried the palanquin all over the place from the start to the end

Kudos..!

smiles smiles smiles

  The palanquins are rushed through the narrow allies of Kritipur.

 

Then the turn of the beauties to play the cultural tunes

man they did played in full enjoyment

seeing them play and dance gosh.! even i wanted to join them and dance my Aoff

they were a band to watch

 

Girl with a high voltage smile

 

 

 

Knaa - a musical instrument

 After the cultural band passed by with the Knaa, 

my eyes caught sight to kids in a typical Newari dress

which is rare to seen in Kathmandu

i asked the kids to stay putt and i took their  photos

 

 With all the smiles all around and the times i had was already worth keeping a memory

the both palanquins are take to the Uma Maheshwor Temple

 

Uma Maheshwor Temple

 Both palanquins are settled below the temple and worshiped by the locals

 with the cultural band and dances

 

Devakhii Baja : Horns of sheep on the baja

 

 

 Seeing all of them dancing and having fun my feet were just dying to be a part of it.

 

 

 

 

I so wanted to dance with them and just go whit the spirit of all the festive people

just admiring their unity and smile and sharing

ah..! it was worth watching

People witnessing the jatra from the below courtyard of Uma Maherswor Temple

 The lastly both palanquins are carried and driven to the last stop in Layaku tole

where it is rested there and local people come to pray devotions and worship the two deity

 they kept on playing the cultural musical band and people we dancing around

ah.! man i so wanted to join them

 

To Layaku

Idol of lord Indrayani

 

  

 Even the elderly people were dancing well i did managed to capture his moves

 

 i so wanted to know about the carnival as i ended up talking with historical museum of Kirtipur

and this is what he had to say

He said that the festival starts in Paanga and the next day the festival starts in Kritipur 

the Indrainai and ganesh jatra..

The palanquins are lifted from the DyaaDhokaand they blow up Knaa (a long Bugal type musical instrument) facing towards the village below. It indicates the starting of the Kritipur Carnival the festival of Indrayani and Ganesh follwing that the rest of the village start and celebrate the festival, and worship their respective deity.

The palanquins are carried form the DyaaDhokha with various musical bands leading them to the various spots and the followed by the unique musical group of two called "Devakhii Baja" and the palanquins are taken though the pathways and street ways of Kirtipur and rested in various spots for the worshiping of the deities and then the two palanquins are rested below the high standing Uma Maheshwar Temple. They worship, the deities there and then celebrate by dancing along with the musical bands.

The palanquins are carried and taken Layaku., the last stop where people worship the two deities. The worshiping of the deities also have turns of each bahal or tole, different toles in upcoming different festivals, which creates unity, helps to save the culture and minimize the dispute between the people.
This year was the turn of Khaan Ba: and Paphaal who worshipped the deities.

Then the Dwari Puja is conducted, the main person of the tole attends the puja with cultural musical band and a long sword which is then used for the sacrifice in front of the deities and after the puja the palanquins are taken all over the towns alleys of Kirtipur and lastly to the temple of Bagh Bhairab.

He also said that the ceremony of taking the palanquins inside the Bagh Bahirab is celebrated just as the typical marriage ceremony of newar community. Marriage ceremony where a key is given to the newly weeded bride when she enters her husband’s house..The same process is done as the Indrayani is given the key when the palanquins enter the temple of Bagh Bhairab.

Then the carnival comes to an end.

Bagh Bhairab Temple

 I couldn't be there to take the shots of the puja and the sacrifice made to the deities

and

the main, the most interesting part of the festival
the last part where the deity is taken to the Bagh Bhairab and all the ceremonies

i so wanted to see it and share with you guys

but i was not well scheduled to attend whole festival

so., i couldn't present the end part of the carnival well there is always a next time for everything 

now i know and listed the things i have to do and where to locate

for sure

next time i will present all the carnival story with you folks.

thank you for being with me till the end and hope you loved the phots

i was so overwhelmed and happy to see and witness the festival

i hope next year some of you guys would love to join me and i love to have a company

if you have any critiques or comments or suggestion for me feel free to post em' below

Cheers..!