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Dolkha’s 500-Year-Old Khadga Jatra Faces Financial Crisis DOLKHA, Oct 25 – The historic Khadga Jatra, a cultural tradition in Dolkha dating back approximately 500 years, is facing significant challenges due to a lack of funding. The festival, traditionally sustained by land rents (kuta) provided by guthiyars (trustees), has struggled to secure necessary resources since the establishment of the republic, as these traditional contributions have ceased. According to Suresh Kumar Shrestha, the festival’s treasurer, the event is currently being managed through the support of the Bhimeshwar Puja and Guthi Management Committee, which provided approximately 300,000 rupees this year. Shrestha noted that the tradition is maintained by families claiming descent from the youngest son of King Indra Dev Singh. With the decline of traditional land rents, organizers have been forced to rely on personal donations and funds generated from offerings at the Bhimeshwar Temple. Former committee chairman Jeevan Shrestha warned that without government intervention, this historic tradition is at risk of disappearing. He emphasized that both local communities and state authorities must take responsibility for the preservation of this cultural heritage. The Khadga Jatra, held annually on the day of Ekadashi following Vijaya Dashami, commemorates the mythological victory of deities over the demon king Mahishasura. The rituals involve participants dressed in traditional white attire, performing a symbolic war dance to the rhythm of local Kusule music. The festival includes elaborate processions, the symbolic sacrifice of pumpkins representing the demon, and the ritualistic slaughter of buffaloes at various temple sites, including the Bhimeshwar and Tripura Sundari temples. The festival’s complex procedures begin on Navami, involving the creation of a symbolic idol of King Chakreshwor and various sacrificial rites. The main war dance takes place on Ekadashi, involving various roles such as the chief sword-bearer, military commanders, and representatives of the deities, who traverse the town performing battle reenactments. In addition to the cultural challenges, local officials provided data on the recent Dashain festivities at the historic Bhimeshwar Temple. Ward Chairman Stalin Shrestha reported that 1,198 animal sacrifices were offered by trustees and the public over the ten days of Bada Dashain. This included 615 goats, 542 ducks and roosters, and one buffalo from the public, alongside additional sacrifices provided by the guthiyars. The temple collected 40,090 rupees from public offerings, which will be deposited into a bank account following a formal count conducted in the presence of the Nepal Army and the District Administration Office. Local residents and organizers continue to call for long-term financial management and government support to ensure the survival of the Khadga Jatra, which they view as a vital piece of Nepal’s historical and cultural identity. Article source: Gorkhapatra National Daily | Image credit: Gorkhapatra National Daily
Dolkha’s 500-Year-Old Khadga Jatra Faces Financial Crisis DOLKHA, Oct 25 – The historic Khadga Jatra, a cultural tradition in Dolkha dating back approximately 500 years, is facing significant challenges due to a lack of funding. The festival, traditionally sustained by land rents (kuta) provided by guthiyars (trustees), has struggled to secure necessary resources since the establishment of the republic, as these traditional contributions have ceased. According to Suresh Kumar Shrestha, the festival’s treasurer, the event is currently being managed through the support of the Bhimeshwar Puja and Guthi Management Committee, which provided approximately 300,000 rupees this year. Shrestha noted that the tradition is maintained by families claiming descent from the youngest son of King Indra Dev Singh. With the decline of traditional land rents, organizers have been forced to rely on personal donations and funds generated from offerings at the Bhimeshwar Temple. Former committee chairman Jeevan Shrestha warned that without government intervention, this historic tradition is at risk of disappearing. He emphasized that both local communities and state authorities must take responsibility for the preservation of this cultural heritage. The Khadga Jatra, held annually on the day of Ekadashi following Vijaya Dashami, commemorates the mythological victory of deities over the demon king Mahishasura. The rituals involve participants dressed in traditional white attire, performing a symbolic war dance to the rhythm of local Kusule music. The festival includes elaborate processions, the symbolic sacrifice of pumpkins representing the demon, and the ritualistic slaughter of buffaloes at various temple sites, including the Bhimeshwar and Tripura Sundari temples. The festival’s complex procedures begin on Navami, involving the creation of a symbolic idol of King Chakreshwor and various sacrificial rites. The main war dance takes place on Ekadashi, involving various roles such as the chief sword-bearer, military commanders, and representatives of the deities, who traverse the town performing battle reenactments. In addition to the cultural challenges, local officials provided data on the recent Dashain festivities at the historic Bhimeshwar Temple. Ward Chairman Stalin Shrestha reported that 1,198 animal sacrifices were offered by trustees and the public over the ten days of Bada Dashain. This included 615 goats, 542 ducks and roosters, and one buffalo from the public, alongside additional sacrifices provided by the guthiyars. The temple collected 40,090 rupees from public offerings, which will be deposited into a bank account following a formal count conducted in the presence of the Nepal Army and the District Administration Office. Local residents and organizers continue to call for long-term financial management and government support to ensure the survival of the Khadga Jatra, which they view as a vital piece of Nepal’s historical and cultural identity.
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