Temal Jatra at Bouddhanath Stupa (Photo Feature)

Kathmandu:  The Tamang community is celebrating Temal Jatra.

The festival begins on the Chaitra Shukla Chaturdashi. Observing the festival, there is a ritual to pay homage to their deceased ancestors in Buddhist shrines across the country.

The Tamang community from Makwanpur, Lalitpur, Nuwakot, Sindhupalchowk, Kavrepalanchowk, including Kathmandu gathered at Bauddhastupa to celebrate the festival.

During the Temal Jatra, there is a tradition of lighting butter lamps (nangsal) and ‘Chhyomi’ in memory of the ancestors. Lamas and gurus also perform special puja and prayers ‘Ngopa–Monlam.’

Buddha Jayanti in Boudhanath Premises (Photo Feature)

On the night of Chaturdashi, the devotees stay awake with lighting lamps and take a holy bath in Baisadhara river, Balaju, on the early morning of the full moon. The community concludes the festival by performing puja at Swoyambhu Mahachaitya.

According to myth, Rinjen Dorje, the last king of Temal, recognized the festival as a royal festival after the completion of the reconstruction of the Bauddha Stupa. The government has recognised the jatra as a national festival.

There is also a practice of celebrating Temal Jatra with grandeur at Boudhanath Stupa.

(Glimpses of Temal Jatra celebration at Boudhhanath Stupa )

(Photos: Saroj Basnet)

Nepali version of the photo feature