Shikali Jatra Festival: Celebrating Deities in Khokana, Nepal
The medieval town of Khokana in Nepal recently celebrated the vibrant “Shikali Jatra,” a traditional festival held instead of the Dashain festival. This five-day event features masked dancers representing various Hindu deities performing around the Shikali temple to honor the goddess known as “Shikali,” “Ajima,” or Mother Goddess.
Festival Highlights
The festivities begin with a procession of Goddess Rudrayani or Shikali, carried in a wooden chariot through the village to the temple, accompanied by sacred copper vessels. The Jatra includes Tantric rituals and colorful masked dances depicting 14 deities from the Hindu Pantheon. Priests in white robes join the 14 masked deities in these traditional dances.
Rituals and Traditions
Bekhanar Maharjan, a priest, explained that the festival starts on Tritiya of Ashoj with a male buffalo sacrifice at the city’s main gate, performed by three Guthis. Eight young boys collect materials for the ritual, with three gathering the buffalo’s blood for the Shikali Temple. The buffalo meat is later distributed as Prasad. On the fourth day, the goddess’s idol is transported to the temple in a palanquin.
Dance Themes
The dances include themes like the search for a monster and stories from the Swosthani or Skanda Purana. In one dance, deities like Mahadev, Parvati, and Ganesh compete to reach Sumeru Parbat. Kumar, flying on a peacock, faces challenges, but Hanuman intervenes in a battle with the demon deity Lakhe. The Jatra ends on Fulpati, focusing on goddess Rudrayani, the town’s patron deity.
Historical Significance
The festival is linked to the town’s origins, believed to be founded by King Amar Malla in the 15th century. The Malla kings built temples dedicated to the Matrikas to protect their realm. The Sikali Temple, dedicated to Goddess Rudrayani, marks the town’s founding.
Local reveller Riddhi Tuladhar shared, “During this time, there are lots of people. People come here and they get to learn about different cultures. It’s quite fun and you get to learn and experience new things.”
Doubts Revealed
Shikali Jatra -: Shikali Jatra is a traditional festival celebrated in Khokana, a village in Nepal. It is known for its colorful and lively events, including dances and rituals.
Khokana -: Khokana is a small village in Nepal, famous for its traditional culture and festivals like the Shikali Jatra.
Goddess Shikali -: Goddess Shikali is a deity worshipped during the Shikali Jatra festival. She is honored through dances and rituals during the event.
Goddess Rudrayani -: Goddess Rudrayani is another deity celebrated during the festival. A procession is held in her honor as part of the festivities.
Tantric rituals -: Tantric rituals are special religious ceremonies that involve specific practices and chants. They are performed to honor deities and seek blessings.
Buffalo sacrifice -: During the festival, a buffalo is sacrificed as part of the rituals. The meat is then distributed as Prasad, which is considered a blessed offering.
Prasad -: Prasad is food that is offered to deities during religious ceremonies and then distributed to people as a blessing.
Swosthani Purana -: Swosthani Purana is a sacred Hindu text that contains stories and teachings. Some dance themes during the festival are based on stories from this text.
King Amar Malla -: King Amar Malla was a historical figure associated with the founding of Khokana. The festival is linked to his legacy and the town’s cultural heritage.
