In Pics: Patan’s historic Kartik dance

LALITPUR: The historical Kartik Naach (Kartik dance), which began in 1697, has begun on this Sunday, Kartik 13 (Oct 30).

This historical dance associated with 17 religious stories related to the Hindu god Lord Vishnu was first started by the then king of Patan Siddhinar Singh Malla to celebrate the completion of the construction of the Lord Krishna temple inside the Durbar Chowk on the advice of his gurus Hari Bansha Rajopadhyaya and Bishwanath Upadhyaya.

Kartik Naach is a dance drama based on dance and music performed every year in the month of Kartik. This dance is performed at the Kartik Dabali located in Patan Durbar Square. Initially, this dance was started by King Siddhinar Singh Malla for two days at Nashal Chowk. But later his son Shreenivasa Malla started showing it for seven days.

Similarly, Prince Yog Narendra Malla, Shreenivasa Malla’s son, began staging it for 15 days. This dance is now only performed for a maximum of one month. The Kartik dance begins with the words ‘Baath: Pyaakh.’ It is on display for three days. Then dances based on Lord Vishnu’s various stories are performed.

This dance is thought to have begun for the sake of peace, prosperity, and entertainment in the country at the time. This dance was once performed for 27 days in the month of Kartik, or a month.

Kartik dance will be performed this year for only ten days, from Kartik 13 (Oct 30) to Kartik 22 (Nov 8). This ancient dance, which was celebrated throughout the month of Kartik, has been performed only for a few days in recent years due to a variety of factors.

In the picture on Wednesday Kartik 16 (Nov 2), Shitjwar/Vishmajwar war and Mahadev/Krishna war dance are shown under Yudhkala:-

-Saroj Basnet/MK