Nepali Medieval town celebrates traditional “Shikali Jatra” procession as substitute of Dashain

Oct 10, 2024

Lalitpur (Nepal), Oct 09 (ANI): The medieval town of Khokana recently held its vibrant "Shikali Jatra," a traditional festival celebrated in place of the fortnightly Dashain festival. During this five-day event, masked dancers representing various Hindu deities performed spirited dances around the Shikali temple, honouring the goddess known as "Shikali," "Ajima," or Mother Goddess. The festivities commenced with the procession of Goddess Rudrayani or Shikali, carried in a wooden chariot through the village and eventually resting at the temple, accompanied by various sacred copper vessels. The Jatra incorporates Tantric rituals and features colourful masked dances depicting 14 deities from the Hindu Pantheon. Priests dressed in white robes, along with the 14 masked deities, come together to perform these traditional dances. The festival is believed to protect the town from misfortunes and is also an occasion for farmers to celebrate the post-harvest season. The dances performed during the Jatra reflect various religious beliefs and traditions. Masked dancers showcased their performances in front of the temple. The dances include two themes: one involving the search for a monster, while the other is based on the Swosthani or Skanda Purana. In the Swosthani dance, Mahadev, Parvati, Kumar, Ganesh, and other deities compete to reach the Sumeru Parbat, with the winner receiving a reward. The Jatra culminates on Fulpati, focusing on the town's patron deity, goddess Rudrayani, also known as Maheshvari. She is regarded as the Shakti of Lord Shiva and is worshipped under various names, including Rudrayani, Shankari, Shivani, and Mahesi. Historically, King Amar Malla relocated the Maharjan and Dangol families from Pachali Bhairav to Khokana to manage the temple. When the kingdom was established, it was initially named Jitapur. The Malla kings built various temples dedicated to the Matrikas (Mother Goddesses) to safeguard their realm from epidemics and illnesses.