दिपंख: यात्रा २०७० – Dipankha Yatra – 2013

Dipankha Yatra is not an annual or a regular event but it happens only when the five planetary positions come together. So, Dipankha Yatra is rare event and held only after 20 or 25 years.

The five planetary alignment means the full moon day of Aswin (September/October), ‘sankranti’ means the first day of the month in the solar calendar, Sunday, ‘revati naksatra’, and ‘harsa yog’ should be on the same day.

On this day, devotees visit 121 different shrines of Buddhist, and Hindu deities in Lalitpur and Kathmandu to make offerings to the deities. Devotees start ‘Dipankha Yatra’ at Nagbahal in Lalitpur making three circles round the gold-gilded brass bull. Then, they follow the route: Nagbahal-Bungamati-Chovar-Ichangu-Svoyambhu-Bijayeshwori-Lazimpat-Chabahil-Baudha-Gushesvore-Pashupati-Jayabagesvore-Sankhamul and back to Nagbahal. Devotees cover 66 km of the ‘Dipankha Yatra’ being held on the Kartik sankranti (October 18) this year.

Devotees don’t need to fast for taking this ‘yatra’, meaning a journey. They can eat and drink on the way. They could even break this religious ‘yatra’ prematurely if they run out of energy/steam.