Religion and Holidays in Bandipur
July 9, 2009
Bandipur, located 4.34mi (7km) above
the Dumre Bazaar along the Prithvi highway about 60mi (96.56km) west of Kathmandu,
is home to one of many Newari settlements in Nepal. The Newar people are known
for their attention to detail in craftsmanship and construction – it
is said that any cultural item or building in Nepal with intricate carvings
and designs was most likely done by a Newar. Newari architecture can be found
throughout this village on homes, businesses and temples.
One temple, the Bindebasini Mandir,
is located at the end of the main bazaar. It is dedicated to the goddess Durga
(the “inaccessible or the “invincible”) who is a form of
Devi, the supreme radiant goddess. Durga is considered by Hindus to be the
mother of Ganesha, god known as “The Remover of Obstacles”, and
Kartikeya, a war god, and also an aspect of Kali, goddess of Time and Change.
Every morning in Bandipur, one of
the elderly priests opens the doors so the locals can pray and pay homage
to the idol inside. The temple can easily be recognized as it is the only
large two-tiered building in the bazaar.
A second temple, located just steps
away from the Bindebasini Mandir is the Mahalaxmi Mandir, which also a centuries-old
Newari-style temple. The third temple, one of the most well-known, is the
Khadga Devi Mandir. This temple houses the sacred sword of Mukunda Sen who
was the king of Palpa (Tansen) during the 16th century. You can read about
the legend of Mukunda Sen here.
At the end of September (during the month of Kartik in the Bikram Sambat calendar),
the people celebrate Dashain. Being the longest and auspicious festival of
the year, the Nepali people take this time to indulge and celebrate to their
heart’s content. Occurring over a fifteen-day period, it begins during
the bright lunar fortnight and ends on the day of the full moon. In Bandipur,
Dashain is especially important because their main temple, the Bindebasini
Mandir, is dedicated to the goddess Durga. Dashain celebrates this goddess
in all of her manifestations. Thousands of animal sacrifices are performed
throughout Bandipur and Nepal in preparation for the ritual holy bathing.
Statues of the goddess are drenched in blood for many days and abundant offerings
are made in her honor. To read more about this holiday, click
here.
During the month of October, the
people celebrate Tihar, or the “Festival of Light” in which all
of the houses are decorated with lit oil lamps. The entire village of Bandipur
shines brightly in the night for five days straight, starting from the thirteenth
day of the waning moon in October. Laxmi, the Goddess of Wealth, is worshipped
during this time. The festival symbolizes life and prosperity in all forms
and for all people no matter what caste or creed they come from. (Hint: this
is also the theme for Dil’s Home Foundation). To read more about this
holiday, click
here.
Please visit our
photos section for more sites and scenery of the
village of Bandipur - Nepal home of Dil’s Home Foundation!
