Alongside the Navadurga dance performed on the occasion of Yomari Purnima, the traditional Khat Jatra of Balkumari in Upper Lachhi Tol and Brahmayani in Lower Lachhi Tol was celebrated with great enthusiasm in Thecho, Lalitpur.
The Jatra, a significant cultural festival of the Newar community, is observed every year for four days beginning from Chaturdashi of the Shukla Paksha of the lunar month. The festival begins on the first day with ritual animal sacrifices and worship. This day is locally known as Chhoyla Bu. Early the following morning, deities from the Navadurga temple assemble and proceed in a line to the main square of Lower Lachhi Tol, where they perform a collective ritual dance.
According to Jitendra Mali, leader of the Navadurga Guthi, this sacred performance is known in Newari as Pyapu Dhya:lha yegu. In the evening, after worshipping Navadurga Bhavani Devi Guthi with offerings, the fierce and symbolic dance of Goddess Kali is performed.
The locals of Thecho refer to this day as Nhi :Pyankha. Another major highlight of the Jatra is the appearance of the gu:dhya (deity) associated with the Guthi. The Gus is traditionally brought out only during the Jatra and at the time of the death of a Guthiyar. In the evening, the Gu:dhya (goddess) is ritually taken into the Guthi house. Naike Mali explained that the Thakali Nakin, the senior woman of the Pala household, plays a central role in this ritual.
“On this day, fasting is observed, and worship begins from the moment the deity is brought into the house,” Mali said. “The daily morning rice cooked at home is offered to the deity, and this offering continues for a year under the responsibility of the Thakali Nakin.”
It is believed that the Ka: (Indra instrument) must be played while bringing the deity into the house. In Newar tradition, the Ka: instrument is played only during Jatra festivals or at the time of death, and not on other occasions. On the final day of the Jatra, Ganesh is taken in the morning to the house of the person who has taken the ritual oath, while Bhairav is taken with great pomp and procession to Pukhushi Tol. In total, three main Guthis of Lower Lachhi Tol and seven Guthis of Upper Lachhi Tol are directly involved in organizing and observing the festival.
Ward Chairperson of Godavari Municipality-12, Thecho, said that plans are underway to protect such endangered cultural heritage through policy measures under the Local Government Operation Act. “We have allocated a budget to prepare a ward profile,” he said, adding that preserving traditional festivals like the Khat Jatra is a priority for the local government.
