Chandeswori temple is situated in a valley at about 4800ft. above the sea level Banepa, the historical town, is about 26km east from Kathmandu. “after having the favor and direction of goddess Chandeswori, king Anandadeva founded seven cities, Banepur, near Chandeswori Pitha, Panauti near Prayaga Tirtha of Nepal, Nala near Nala Bhagwati, Dhulikhel near Narayana, Khadpu near Dhaneswori, chaukot near the resident of Chaukura Rishi; Sanga ,near Nasika Pitha”. Anandadeva united the scattered villages and made modern Banepa surrounded by eight gates with a Ganesh at each of the gates in eight different directions in Kaligat year 4197. He also built a temple of Chandeswori and arranged a trust fund for the goddess.
Chandeswori, the guardian deity of Banepa, has been called by several names such as Jagajjanani; Bhagvati, Durga, Chandika, Mahisasur- mardini, Bhavani, Kalika, Chamunda, Kumari and Dumaju. But to the people of Banepa. Chandeswori is all of these deities.
As to the emanation of goddess Chandeswori as mentioned in the mythology, it was at the time of great war between the deities and the demon Chandasur. The demon king was beheaded and from the corpse of the demon th
e stream of light had come out and it became Chandeswori Linga. But the people of Banepa are of the opinion that the Shiva linga enshrined in a temple close to the temple of Chandeswori at the outskirts of the town was installed by Chandasur just before the time when he was abot to be beheaded.
It is said that Chandeswori of Banepa is the daughter of Svetakali (Naradevi) of Kathmandu. The mask dance of Svetakali is brought to Banepa once every twelve years.
Festivals begin in Nepal with the beginning of the new year. The festival of Chandeswori is celebrated in honor of her victory over the demon. It takes place on the first full moon day of the New Year’s festival in the country. Many things are to be done for the preparation of the Jatra. To ward off evil spirits and to scantify the place for the Jatra, ‘bau’ made of beaten rice is scattered by a ‘Kasain’ accompanied by the performances of ‘nayekins’ and cymbals from the eastern old gate to the temple of Chandeswori. This puza is begun only after the ‘Dewali puza’ of Bhochhibhoya caste of Banepa eight days before the full moon. There are some other ‘puzas’ such as ‘tak puza; ‘panchabali puza ( the sacrifice of five different creatures such as buffalo, a goat, a sheep,a duck and a
cock) and ‘mata puza’ ( the ritual procession of torches) prior to the chariot festival. Early in the morning on the day of full moon, mata puza’ composed of several hundred peoples with torches in their hands begins from the old palace and after taking a walk round the temple of Chandeswori ends in Jayesigal, the source of a sacred river. This festival of lights proceeded by different kinds of musical instruments such as ‘dhimes’, ‘bhuchhyas’ ‘nayekins’, ‘chhusyas’,’kahas’ and ‘ponga’ is a welcome to goddess Chandeswori.
A very huge colorful chariot that rests on four big wooden legs is made by the Manandhars of ‘kha-guthi’ at Tin-dhara, the center of the town, each side of the chariot has five big poles. At noon there gather a crowd of peoples to see the ‘Jatra’. The empty chariot is carried to the temple of Chandeswori. In the late evening a very old idol of the goddess made of precious metal is kept with ritual performances into the chariot when different kinds of musical instruments are played and hymns to the goddess are recited aloud.
Next day, i.e, the day of full moon, the chariot is carried back to the city of Banepa. At Wokutole, the goddess is welcomed with different kinds of musical bands and hymns with loud voices, when two virgins of Bhochhibhoya caste worship and welcome the goddess by removing the white veil covering the body of the goddess.
On the way to the old palace , women offer oil-lamp and puzas, and some other scatter biscuits, bread and edible things from the windows over the chariot. Soon the chariot is carried back to Wokutole where a special puza is offered by Bhochhibhoya to the goddess. At that time pieces of the meat of goats sacrified to the goddess on the previous day are scattered over the crowd of people which is known as ‘Kalandan’. Those who can have the pieces of goats meat are considered to be fortunate for the whole year to come. Then the goddess is carried back t
o the temple. Next day the deity is worshipped with ‘sagun’. For only two days the door of the ‘Dyo-che’ where the metal god is kept is open for offering puza. Then it is closed for the whole year to come. In tthis way the Chandeswori Jatra is celebrated in Banepa.
Jashma Sainju
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