 |
The celebration of the festival of Bala Chaturdashi marks
the end of a corpse-snatching demon, Balasur, and ensures peace for the
soul deceased in the past. On the eve of the festival, thousands of people
from Kathmandu and its surroundings proceed to Pashupatinath to keep an
all night vigil by lighting small wick lamps, chanting hymns and dancing.
At dawn, everyone makes his or her way to the holy Bagmati River to bathe.
After ritual bath, worship are then performed at the temple's many shrines
and set off for Kailash hill behind the temple to scatter the " sat bij",
seven types of grain, along a prescribed route starting and ending at Pashupati
Temple. It takes several hours to complete the task, after which worshippers
begin their journey home. The festival was installed to appease the restless
soul of those whose bodies could not be properly cremated.
Procession of Mother Goddess.
The Goddess Indrayani of Kathmandu is locally known as Luti Ajima. The
temple is situated near Vishnumati River. After sunset, idols of various
deities are carried to the temple of Luti Ajima. The image of Luti Ajima
is placed in palenquin and brought out in the courtyard to greet all the
deities. Next day, all the idols of deities are taken in parade to Thahity
near Thamel where they are kept for display.
In the Hindu tradition,
the love story of Lord Rama, the epic hero of the Ramayan, and Sita, model
of ideal Hindu womanhood is considered as holy and greatest. This festival,
taking place in Janakpur in the eastern Terai, celebrates the marriage
of Lord Rama and Sita. During the week before the festival starts, thousands
of pilgrims start to arrive in the historic city of Janakpur to observe
and take part in the re-enactment of the marriage procession. The celebrations
are focused around the Janaki temple and the Ram Sita Bibah Mandap. On
the 1st day of the festival, a large procession sets out from Rama temple,
carrying an image of Rama and proceeding to the famous Janaki temple.
The next day, in an equally colorful ceremony, an idol of Sita is carried
to Rama's side thus re-enacting the ancient wedding of the divine couple.