KATHMANDU, AUGUST 11
The traditional Ghantakarna festival, also known as Gathamangal, is being observed across the Kathmandu Valley on Tuesday, particularly by the Newar community.
Observed on the 14th day of the waning moon in Shrawan, the centuries-old festival commemorates the defeat of Ghantakarna, a mythical three-legged, man-eating demon.
The rituals are traditionally performed to drive away evil and protect households from misfortune.
As part of the observance, effigies of Ghantakarna are made from green reeds, bamboo or wheat straw and erected at crossroads and junctions across the Valley.
People begin the day by bathing, cleaning their homes and courtyards, and performing prayers and other rituals.
Children also participate in a long-standing tradition by stretching ropes across roads and asking passersby for money, locally known as jagat.
The main ritual takes place in the evening, when torches are lit and the effigy is dragged through the streets before being set ablaze. The burning of the effigy symbolises the banishment of evil.
Festival carries deeper cultural meaning
Cultural scholar Prakash Shrestha ‘Sakkwa’ says Gathamangal is described in the Gopala genealogy as representing the three gunas or fundamental qualities: satva, associated with purity, knowledge and clarity; rajas, associated with passion and desire; and tamas, representing darkness, inertia and ignorance.
Ghantakarna is also associated with Bhairav, who is revered in the Newar faith as a fierce protector and manifestation of Lord Shiva.
The festival also has a particular significance for newly married Newar couples, who traditionally pay homage to Ghantakarna on the occasion.
Gathamangal is traditionally believed to protect people from physical, psychological and external obstacles, while bringing prosperity, material well-being and protection from enemies.
The festival continues to combine religious rituals, community participation and centuries-old cultural practices, making it one of the significant observances in the Kathmandu Valley’s Newar cultural calendar.