Bisket Jatra, an elaborate festival in Bhaktapur

The citizens of Bhaktapur celebrate a nine-day festival known as Bisket with the 5th day coinciding with the 1st day of the New Year, 1st of the Nepali month Baishakh (mid- April). Nepali New Year’s Day this year falls on April 13, 2016. Bisket Jatra is one of the most elaborate festivals of Kathmandu valley. Days before the festival begins, work begins on the building of two chariots, one of Bhairav and the other of Bhairavi, his consort. The image of Bhairav and Bhairavi are placed in their respective chariots and pulled through the streets of Bhaktapur. Amidst much fanfare, with large musical troupes marching down the city streets from Durbar Square, the chariots are pulled first to one part of the city and then to the next. A tug of war between the upper and lower halves of the city decides where the chariots go first. They are then pulled a little distance from the Bhariav temple and rested where devotees flock to pay homage and receive tika and blessed food. Each day there is much feasting and most people visit the shrines of the eight mother goddesses going to a different one each day. The chariots are then drawn down to an open field in Yashinkhel where a 70-foot pole is erected. This pole comes down on Nepali New Year’s day. The Bhairavi is one of the eight mother goddesses and her image is kept at her shrine during the few days before her chariot is pulled back again. There is immense excitement when the pole is brought down. The chariots are eventually pulled back up and through the streets one last time before they return to their resting place where they are dismantled and the images of the god and goddess returned to their respective temples. A large number of tourists attend this festival each year. This is a great photo opportunity of a festival steeped in legends.