Bala Chaturdashi – Festival of Nepal, Observed At Pashupatinath Temple
Bala Chaturdashi is one of the famous Nepali festivals. It is observed at the Hindu’s holy Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. Bala Chaturdashi festival is also called Satbij Chharne Aaushi in the Nepali local language. This festival Bala Chaturdashi of Nepal is observed at the holy place of Nepal, Sleshmantak Forest near Pashupatinath Temple. Sleshmantak forest is located nearby the most famous temple, Pashupatinath Temple. Sleshmantak forest is located on the other side across the Bagmati river by the world heritage site, Pashupatinath Temple.
Photo of Bala Chaturdashi Nepal Image source:
Bala Chaturdashi festival falls on Marga Krishna Chaturdashi. According to English Calendar, it falls during late November or early December and according to Nepali Calendar, it falls in late Kartik or early Mangsir month in Nepal. This year 2013, this festival falls on 2nd December or 17th Mangsir 2070.
On this Bala Chaturdashi festival, a huge population from various places of Nepal gathered at the river bank of Bagmati to celebrate. Besides the Nepali locale devotees, Hindu devotees from other south Asian countries like India, Bangladesh, etc gather at the river bank of the holy river Bagmati by the Holy temple Pashupatinath.
| Pashupatinath Temple Nepal: Biggest Temple Lord Shiva World |
As we all knew that Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most sacred temples of the Hindu God Shiva and one of the famous world heritage sites of Nepal. This Temple is located on the bank of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal. Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal.
How to observe the Bala Chaturdashi
How do we observe the Bala Chaturdashi festival in Nepal? It is a major question frequently asked of me. Bala Chaturdashi may be asked because of curiosity of knowing about Nepali culture and festivals. How to observe Bala Chaturdashi? Let’s discuss it.
First of all, we light the Nepali traditional oil lamp which is called diyo in Nepal. Then devotee starts to recite the mantras. Some people recite mantras while lighting the Diyo, a traditional oil lamp. But I think, it is good to recite mantras after lightening the oil lamp. After once that day is lightened, it should be kept burning the whole night. This is the traditional and cultural ritual of Bala Chaturdashi. So, devotees should be awakened herself/himself a whole night to ensure that the Diyo, oil lamp keeps burning.
Devotees often awake the whole night by chanting mantras, singing Bhajans, and dancing with other devotees. A whole night of this Bala Chaturdashi, they pay honor to the Hindi God Shiva.
The next day at daybreak, devotees should go to the holy Bagmati river to take ritual bathing. They take bath in the Bagmati river on the next day of Bala Chaturdashi. As we all know that Bagmati river is one of the holiest rivers among the Hindus. It is said that one should dip three times in the Bagmati river for purification.
After the holy bathing in the Bagmati river, devotees visit and worships almost all of the temples and idols in and around the Pashupatinath temple. They visit temples as more as they can.
Pilgrims dropped Satbij only for their dead relations may reap the fruit of this merit in the next world. The main reason to drop Satbij and light diyo the whole night is to reap the fruit of this merit in the next world.
Nepal is rich in history and age-old traditions and rituals. Bala Chaturdashi is an interesting and age-old traditional ritual of Nepal.
Bala Chaturdashi – Festival of Nepal, Observed At Pashupatinath Temple
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