3 years ago
Every year on the day after the full moon of March, i.e. on the occasion of Chillaga Paru, it is customary to take the idol of Chakkn dya from Vikramshila Mahavihar in Thambahi (Thamel) around Kathmandu.
Scholars have it that the term Chakkn is a deprivation of the Sanskrit word Chakramana. In Buddhism, Chakramana means walking meditation. Thus, this festival is considered to be a festival of walking Buddha within a state of meditative equipoise.
Supporting this idea, there is a history that a person got inside the image and carried it in their shoulder. Until this day, this act is carried out in a small free space next to Thambahi.
In Nepal bhasa, Chakkn dya is the mighty glowy God. Another myth has it that Chakkn dya is Singh Sartha Bahu who was the king of Singh Kalpa Nagar in the 12th century.
This mighty king used to go around the city to understand the sentiments of the people and the situation of the country.
In order to keep him alive in memory, it is customary to keep his idol in chariot and circulate it in the inner city till now. In the procession that start from the Thambahi, an idol is taken around Jyatha, Asan, Kelatva, Wangha, Kyila Gha and Hanuman Dhoka.
The interesting aspect of the Chariot festival is that, after reaching the Itumbaha premises of Kilagha, the musical bands stop playing.
In the past, Singh Sartha Bahu went to meet and see his brother-in-law Kesh Chandra. Back then, there was a monster named Gurumapa in Itum Bahal. Thus he used to return back secretly without letting anyone know about his trip.
This Singh Sartha Bahu is also considered to be the first person to reach Tibet. He established trade relations with Tibet since he was a prince.
Now, due to insufficient budget to conduct this Jatra, the Jatra organizers are saying that it is getting tougher and tougher to carry out the procession as before.
Also, the organizer committee’s land has been under control of mafias. They are constructing a big commercial building called Chhaya Complex and Aloft hotel on the land of Vikramshila Mahavihar.
Thus today on 23rd March, rich landlord Simhasartha Bahu, whose land is under control by Hotel Aloft and Chhaya Devi Complex is going on a journey to conform there is no injustice in his Kingdom.
