Tokha Prepares for Four-Day Biska Jatra Celebration

Kathmandu. The historic, religious, and archaeological town of Tokha is set to celebrate the four-day Biska Jatra. The Tokha Bisket Jatra Main Management Committee announced in a press conference today that the festival, prominent in the Newar community, will be held from Baisakh 1 to 4.

Committee co-coordinator Ganesh Man Shrestha stated that various sub-committees have been formed to manage security, volunteers, parking, transportation, musical bands, and chariot processions to ensure the festival is organized and dignified.

The Biska Jatra, which begins on the last day of Chaitra, is primarily a four-day event. Devotees traditionally visit Baghdwar in Shivapuri for a holy bath on the morning of the last day of the month, then proceed through Chandeshwori to the Sapantirtha Temple that night.

On the morning of Baisakh 1, as the New Year begins, devotees bathe in the Siddhapokhari, a pond constructed by blocking the Gaumukhi and Bahumukhi streams within the Sapantirtha Temple premises. On the evening of the last day of the month, the chariots of Sapanbinayak, Chandeshwori, and Masankali are taken out as 'Jali Dyo' with musical processions, and the Indrayani Dafa Khala returns the chariots to their respective temples after establishing the main leaders.

On New Year's Day at 6 PM, the chariots are brought from their temples to tour the village. The Sapanbinayak chariot is stationed at Yalagi Tole, the Chandeshwori chariot at Thalagi Tole, and the Masankali chariot at Bhutkhel.

On the morning of Baisakh 2, all three chariots tour the village. After the Masankali chariot is stationed at the Bhutkhel rest house and a sacrificial offering is made, both the Kothu Ganesh and Masankali chariots are brought together and lined up at Thalagi Tole at 11 AM.

At 3 PM that afternoon, the living Ganesh Kumari arrives, and a government-sanctioned puja is brought from Taleju, followed by a Sindoor Jatra (vermilion festival) to lift the chariots. After touring the village in the evening, all chariots are stationed at Tapalakshi at 7 PM. It is customary for devotees to stay awake all night performing hymns in front of the chariots.

On the morning of Baisakh 3 at 7 AM, the deities are lifted from Tapalakshi with a Sindoor Jatra and taken for a village tour. At 11 AM, all chariots are stationed at Hasal Tole. At 3 PM, a puja is brought from the Taleju Guthi along with the living Ganesh Kumari, and a Sindoor Jatra is performed. Except for the Saraswati and Mahadev chariots, the others are taken to the pond for purification. After touring the Masankali temple and the village, they are stationed at Konelakshi. Devotees again observe a vigil with hymns throughout the night.

On the final day, Baisakh 4, at 6:30 AM, a Sindoor Jatra is performed, and the chariots are taken on a village tour with full musical accompaniment, arriving at Gachhe Tole around 11 AM. At 3 PM, a puja is brought from the Taleju Guthi with the living Ganesh Kumari, and after a Sindoor Jatra, all chariots are taken on a final village tour over spread cloths before being returned to their respective deity houses, marking the conclusion of the festival. The festival officially ends on the morning of Baisakh 5 at 6:30 AM with the lowering of the ceremonial pole.

Tokha Municipality Mayor Prakash Adhikari stated that the municipality places high priority on the historic festivals of Tokha and noted that the municipality has allocated a budget for the management of the Jatra.

Tokha Municipality grants a one-day holiday across the entire municipality and a two-day holiday for Wards No. 2 and 3, where the festival is primarily held.