In Pics: This is how Gathamangal festival celebrated in Bhaktapur
This festival is celebrated in Kathmandu Valley, Dolakha, Bandipur and other places inhabited by the Newar community.
KATHMANDU: The Newar community has celebrated the Gathamangal festival today. This festival is celebrated to commemorate the day when a demon named Ghantakarna, who caused sorrow in ancient times, was killed.
This festival is celebrated in Kathmandu Valley, Dolakha, Bandipur and other places inhabited by the Newar community.
Believed to be the oldest one among other festivals of the Newar community, it is observed by erecting the dummies of a three-legged demon named Ghantakarna at streets crossroads on every Shrawan Krishna Chaturdashi (the fourth day of the waxing moon in the Nepali month of Shrawan as per the lunar calendar).
According to cultural expert Tejeshwor Babu Gwanga, dummies made of wheat hay, bamboos, or plant branches are burned down at night in farmland, river, or rivulet depending on beliefs in different places and traditions within the community.
In Newari, ‘gaan’ means bell and’mo’ means head, which together refer to the festival’s demon, Ghantakarna. People wear iron rings on their fingers in the belief that it will protect them from demons and evil spirits. Wearing those rings is only one aspect of the festival; Gathamangal is much more.
Aside from the effigies, people celebrated the festival by giving money, clothes, salt, and handmade dolls to a semi-naked man who wore black tar on his face for the occasion.
Numerous sensual shapes are drawn all over his body, transforming him into a symbolic representation of Ghantakarna.
Individually, Newars clean their homes and celebrate the day by eating Samaybaji, a dish made of beaten rice, black soybeans, garlic, ginger, meat, and potatoes. During the event, girls from the community are also seen wearing henna.
According to Gopal genealogy, Gathamangal is regarded as the symbol of Bhairava, the fierce form of Lord Shiva. It is customary that the newlyweds pay obeisance to Gathamangal.
