Kathmandu, April 10: The nine-day, eight-night Biska (Bisket) Jatra, one of the most significant cultural festivals of Bhaktapur, begins today, marking the start of celebrations ahead of the Nepali New Year.
The festival officially kicks off four days before the New Year by pulling the chariots of Bhairav and Bhadrakali from Taumadhi Square, near the iconic Nyatapola Temple. The celebrations will conclude on April 18, 2026 (Baisakh 5).
Believed to date back to the Licchavi period, the festival holds deep historical and cultural importance. Its main attraction is the ritual chariot pulling, where residents of the upper (Thane) and lower (Kwone) parts of the city compete to pull the chariot toward their respective neighbourhoods.
The chariot follows traditional routes through major areas of the city, with the first day’s procession involving intense tug-of-war-like scenes before returning the chariot to its original place.
Security has been tightened throughout the festival period to prevent unwanted incidents as large crowds gather.
Key rituals unfold across the nine days. The third day features a buffalo sacrifice to Bhairavnath, followed by the distribution of consecrated meat. On the fourth day, a ceremonial pole known as Yosin Dyo is erected at Lyasingkhel, symbolising the end of the old year and the arrival of the new one.
On New Year’s Day, April 14, 2026 (Baisakh 1), devotees gather in large numbers for worship, accompanied by traditional music and rituals. The ceremonial pole is later brought down the same evening, followed by the symbolic collision of the Bhairav and Bhadrakali chariots.
Subsequent days include processions and rituals dedicated to various deities such as Mahakali, Mahalaxmi, Brahmayani, and Bhairav in different parts of the city.
The festival concludes on the ninth day with the lowering of another ceremonial pole and a final chariot-pulling event, bringing the annual celebration to a close.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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