3 years ago
Every year on the day of Bhadra Krishna Navami, there is a tradition of celebrating Bhimsen Maharaj's procession in Patan. This year this day falls on 31st of August. However, Bhimsen's chariot procession inside the city of Patan has been postponed this year as well. As the risk of corona infection has increased, the procession supposed to take place on Thursday evening has been cancelled.
Vice-chairman of Mangal Toll Reform Committee, Gyanuraja Shrestha informed us that It has been decided not to celebrate Bhimsen Jatra this year. This procession is widely known as Bhindya Jatra in Nepal Bhasa. Bhindya: meaning good deity. Some also consider him to be the epic hero, Bhimsen from Mahabharata.
Bhindya is worshiped by traders as an auspicious deity. The Newari community has long regarded to this deity as a symbol of good fortune and power.Though idol is not to be taken out,
The idol was adorned by Amatya Guthiyars in the morning. Idol of Bhimsen was brought from the back porch of the temple and taken out of the upper floor of the temple and then placed on the ground floor as the temple is under construction. Before that, Rajopadhyaya of Patan worshiped the idol according to the Tantric rules and installed the soul into the idol. This is called Jivanyas Puja, a Tantric method as in previous years. The religious rites of this Jatra begin only after worship.
This is the second widely celebrated Jatra in patan after the Rato Machhindranath. Traders and business mans from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Thimi have a tradition of participating in this procession praying for wealth and prosperity. A special metal khat placing Bhindya used to be taken around through Mangal Bazaar, Saugal, Okubahal, Haugal, Tichhugalli, Purnachandi, Pimbahal, Kumbheshwar and reaching back to Mangal Bazaar.
Son of King Siddhi Narasimha Malla wished to install a statue of Bhindya. King Srinivas Malla proposed the artists to make the shape of Bhimsen. But when the artist was unable to create the look to the king's satisfaction, Srinivasa became very angry. The idol installed in the Bhimsen temple of Patan is considered to be the wrathful form of the same king. Newa: community has considered this deity as a symbol of auspiciousness and power.
