In pics: Joyous of Tamang Community’s major religious festival ‘Temal Jatra’
According to strict religious discipline, devotees remain awake all night on Chaturdashi, lighting lamps and engaging in prayers.
KATHMANDU: The Tamang community’s significant cultural and religious festival, Temal Jatra, has commenced today, Friday.
Celebrated annually on Chaitra Shukla Chaturdashi (the fourteenth day of the waxing moon in the Nepali month of Chaitra), the festival is observed with deep devotion and reverence for the peace of departed ancestors.
Centered around the sacred Buddhist Mahastupa area, the festival draws a large number of Tamang devotees from various districts, including Makwanpur, Lalitpur, Nuwakot, Sindhupalchok, Kavrepalanchok, and the Kathmandu Valley.
During the festival, devotees follow traditional rituals such as lighting ‘Chhyomi’ butter lamps in memory of deceased ancestors and performing religious ceremonies like Ngopa Monlam, under the guidance of Lama Gurus.
According to strict religious discipline, devotees remain awake all night on Chaturdashi, lighting lamps and engaging in prayers.
On the morning of the full moon day (Purnima), they take a ritual bath at Baise Dhara (22 water spouts) in Balaju, Kathmandu.
The festival concludes with worship at the revered Swayambhu Mahachaitya.
As per an ancient legend, the last king of Temal, Rinzin Dorje Bal, officially recognized Temal Jatra as a state festival after completing the reconstruction of a Bouddha stupa.
To this day, the legacy of his historic contribution continues to elevate the significance and grandeur of Temal Jatra.
