Khokana does not celebrate Dashain and has not for centuries, favouring its indigenous nine-day Sikali Jatra, dedicated to Rudrayani, instead. The festival occupies the space taken up by Dashain in other places of the country and is celebrated from Ghatasthapana to Mahanawami.
On the first day, that is Ghatasthapana, eight Kumar boys get taken inside the Sikali Temple 15 minutes outside the city core to perform a secret Tantric puja. The puja is so secretive that not even birds are allowed to fly in the area when it is being performed. The boys reside in the temple for four days and only come out on the fifth day after which, the main Jatra begins.
The boys need to adhere to strict norms from Ghatasthapana to Kojagrat Purnima. They are not allowed to eat eggs, chicken and garlic, cannot drink alcohol and can only have one meal a day.
The eight also need to bathe in the Bagmati River completely naked and can only wear Daura to cover their upper body while performing the Tantric worship at Sikali.
For the first two days of their four-day stay, the boys collect votive items from the houses of the members of the Ta Guthi and Shree Khanda Sala Guthi. They then use these items for the worship of Sikali on the third day.
On the third day, the boys must offer the blood of three male buffaloes ritually sacrificed by three Guthis, Ta Guthi, Shree Khanda Guthi and Jha: Guthi, at the Sikali Temple. The animals are killed in the west of Khokana outside the gate that historically marked the city’s boundary. Only ‘pure’ buffaloes without any wounds or injuries, without a pierced nose and possessing a full set of teeth are selected for the sacrifice.
The fifth day is the main day of the Jatra when the idol of Rudrayani Devi is taken out of its temple located in the main square of Khokana and carried to the Sikali Temple in a wooden palanquin. The palanquin is placed in front of the temple along with nine copper vessels.
All the chief trustees of the three Guthis mentioned above as well as designated priests go with the Devi to perform several rituals. Additionally, they also perform an Ashvamedha Yagya that begins on the evening of the fifth day and continues into the sixth day.
On the sixth day, 14 of the 46 Devgan (god’s people) of Rudrayani dress up as Rudrayani, Indrayani, Mahalaxmi, Chamunda, Barahi, Kumari, Bhairav, Ganesh, Brahma, Mahadev, Bishnu, Hanuman, Kumar and Shakti Kumar and go around Khokana dancing. Some Devgans also walk over fire lit on the Sikali Temple premises as part of the Jatra custom.
On this day, the people leading the Guthis for the year also circumambulate the Sikali Temple with a pot of rice. This rice is then distributed to the devotees gathered to watch the ceremonies as Prasad. Consuming this Prasad is believed to cure stomach ailments.
This dance is once again performed on the seventh day Phulpati in Kwelachhi.
The festival concludes when the idol of Rudrayani is reinstated in its temple on the eighth day Maha Ashtami. After the reinstatement, the townspeople hold feasts to rejoice in the successful completion of the Jatra. Once the Jatra is over, Khokana residents rest. They have to gather their strength for the harvest season that is just around the corner. They are too tired to go to their relatives’ houses to exchange Dashain greetings or receive Tika like other Nepalis on the day of Bijaya Dashami.
Source : risingnepaldaily.com
There is also a fair on the days of Ashwin Shukla Tritiya and Karthik Punirma and on this day a large crowd of devotees gathers here. On this occasion, 14 idols are worshiped outside. Traditional style dance is also shown in the procession here. This dance has been going on since the time of King Bishnu Malla. Even after being taken to Kathmandu for 12 years, dance is shown. Chickens and pigs are not sacrificed in this temple. For this reason, the people of Khokna do not raise pigs and chickens. Khokana's lifestyle is very different from other places in the valley. Khokana is also very famous for mustard oil. During the Rana rule, the Rana used mustard oil of Khokna. Khokana is also very famous for paddy cultivation. The famous Rudrayani temple in Khokna was completely damaged by the great earthquake of 2072 BS and is now being rebuilt.
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