There is a popular saying in Kathmandu: कहीँ नभएको जात्रा हाँडीगाऊँ मा! Meaning, this particular Satyanarayan festival is so unique and unusual, that it only happens in the village of Handigaon. Ironically, Hadigaon is not a remote village but a neighborhood just a few minutes from downtown Kathmandu. Everything about this festival is unusual. Normal festivals have chariots for the gods made to resemble a small temple. Then these chariots are pulled through neighborhoods. In this particular festival, the deity is placed at the top of what looks like an upside down chariot and then the entire contraption is spun around. The “chariot” is then carried by a bunch of men through the streets of Handigaon.
It is one of the areas within the Kathmandu Valley that still observes its traditional practices and festivals, which is becoming a thing of the past elsewhere. Even the smallest of festivals are still observed in Handigaon.
These pictures were taken while my family and I were on a visit to Nepal last October. It has taken me this long to post them.
The Chariots being taken around while being spun around.
Jatras, or festivals are all about movement and motion, I was deliberately using slower shutter speeds to accentuate the feeling of movement in these photographs.
A group of men playing the traditional instruments.
These are traditional pipe type organs.
The Gillette sign and the commotion of the festival are in stark contrast of modern and traditional times.
Spectators in the windows.
A family looks on as the festival progresses.
Traditional band.
An old man dressed in traditional farmer’s costume.
Group of men reciting old prayer songs.
A cotton candy vendor.
Temple full of onlookers. This temple is virtually overgrown by the peepal tree.
A couple of boys strike a pose, I managed to squeeze into this narrow balcony to take pictures from a higher vantage point.
Backlighting created an unusual 3 dimensional effect here.
This is what festivals in Nepal are all about. Commotion. Movement. Colors. Life.
An old woman lights cotton wick lights.
The festival in full swing in the main square of Handigaon.