Jatra celebrations begin in the far west with the onset of Kartik Shukla Paksha

Baitadi: As the major festivals of Dashain and Tihar conclude, the hilly districts of Nepal’s Far West have come alive with the start of the Jatra season.

Jatras are being held in various Shaktipeeths and temples across Baitadi, Darchula, Dadeldhura, Doti, Bajhang, and other districts during the Kartik Shukla Paksha. Local culture expert Jayanand Bhatta said that these religious fairs are organized from Kartik Shukla Pratipada to Purnima. “Temples that conduct jatras during Dashain also perform rituals and fairs during Kartik Shukla Paksha,” he said. “Autumn is considered the best season to worship deities, so there is a long-standing tradition of offering prayers during this period.”

According to Narendra Rawal of Lekam in Darchula, the jatras in various temples begin on Kartik Shukla Pratipada and continue until Kartik Shukla Purnima. “Apart from Durga Paksha in Ashoj, there is also a tradition of collective worship in temples and Shaktipeeths during Kartik Shukla Paksha,” he said. “As scriptures describe Kartik as the most auspicious month, it is considered ideal for worship.”

With the start of Kartik Shukla Paksha, processions and religious fairs are being organized at major temples including Tripurasundari Bhagwati, Raulakedar (known as Kedarnath among the twelve Jyotirlingas), Melauli Bhagwati, Falangasaini Bhagwati, Shivnath, Maharudra, Trivanidham (Ratashila), Ganemeshwar, and Jagannath in Baitadi. Similarly, Kafalasaini Bhagwati, Jagannath, Sigas Dhura, Sansher, Surpal, and Anirudra temples are also hosting jatras during this period.

In Darchula, major events are being held at Malikarjun Dham and Latinath temples. The Latinath Temple in Bantoli began its celebration on the night of Kartik Shukla Dwitiya. Likewise, Dadeldhura’s Ugratara and Bhageshwor temples are hosting fairs, while the famous Badikedar Temple in Doti has also started its jatra.

The temples of Tripurasundari Bhagwati, Raulakedar, Shivnath, and Maharudra hold jatras on Kartik Shukla Saptami and Ashtami, while Melauli Bhagwati, Falangasaini Bhagwati, and Ugratara conduct theirs on Kartik Shukla Purnima. Jagannath and Ganameshwor temples also organize fairs on the same day, while the renowned Malikarjun Dham holds its procession on Kartik Shukla Chaturdarshi.

Thousands of devotees, including many from across the border in India, visit these temples during the jatras. Local resident Narendra Thapa said that Indian devotees from Jhulaghat, Pithoragarh, and nearby areas attend the Tripurasundari Bhagwati fair in Baitadi, which runs from Kartik Shukla Saptami to Ashtami. “We share a close cultural bond with India, and many devotees from there join our festivals every year,” he said.

Indian journalist Pramod Bhatta noted that Indian pilgrims invest thousands each year to visit the temples of Baitadi, Dadeldhura, and Darchula. “For generations, we have been visiting the Tripurasundari Bhagwati Temple for darshan,” he said. “This year too, thousands of devotees are preparing to offer their prayers during the Kartik Shukla Paksha.”

Locals believe that these collective religious gatherings not only strengthen cultural heritage but also foster unity, social harmony, and brotherhood among communities on both sides of the border.