Gathemangal : Festivals Celebrated In Order To Ward Off The Demons
Gathemangal
Gathemangal : The day of Saun Shukla Chaturdashi, the Newa community celebrates Gathemangal or Ghantakarna. At Dobato and Chaubato, a three-legged linga-shaped group of reeds is used to celebrate Thadai Gathemangal or Ghantakarna.
This festival is celebrated by the Newar community as ‘Sinajya Bankegu’ i.e. the festival of planting. But this year, due to the corona virus epidemic, there is not much crowd and excitement.
On this occasion, Gathemangal has been celebrated by worshiping at various Shakti Peeths since Sunday morning. In order to ward off the demons in Naradevi of Kathmandu, the reeds are decorated with the materials of Chhwali, Sisno, Nanglo, Karklo and placed at the crossroads.
The Shakti Peeths were crowded with devotees in the morning. On this day, it is customary for the Newar community to cover the house in the morning, purify themselves, visit various Shakti Peeths, fetch water and sprinkle it from house to house.The Newari community has started teaching traditional dances and bajagaja from today, as well as training in various Bhairav dances and satirical plays performed in Gaijatra.Gathemangal
This festival is celebrated as the first and son’s festival among the various festivals of the Newar community. Since most of the rituals performed in this festival are performed by men, it is also called son’s festival. In order to ward off the demons, the reeds are decorated with chawli, cisno, nanglo, karkalo and other materials and kept at the crossroads.Gathemangal
According to culturologists, this festival is celebrated as a symbol of cleanliness, even though the garbage inside and outside the house is cleaned and disposed of in a systematic manner.This festival is celebrated by cleaning the garbage by calling it a ghost to get rid of it as it does not pay attention to sanitation during the planting period and various insects are causing grief at this time.Gathemangal
On the day of Gathemangal, a person is appointed as a symbol of the offspring of a demon named Ghantakarna and asked to pay for his deeds. It is customary to drive out ghosts by burning torches day and night.In the evening, the idol of Ghantakarna is dragged to a nearby river and burnt. It is customary to put a three-legged or five-legged fortified iron, brass or copper ring on the doorstep of the house after the bell has rung.
This Chaturdashi is also considered as a metal day. The significance of this Chartudashi is very different and practical among the Chartudashis of the year. Let’s learn some things about Gathemaganal i.e. Ghantakarna Chartudashi.
Nowadays, for demons or ghosts in , leaves or bohota, cooked rice and food items are kept in Dunatpari, mainly such items are kept in Dowata. It is believed that by keeping such food and worshiping it, one can avoid ghosts, vampires, wind, water, fire and various occult mantras.Gathemangal
Legend proves that even in Kathmandu, there have been monks and seekers skilled in Tantra Mantra since ancient times.The death of a gigantic monster called Ghantakarna is also commemorated in Gathemaganal. Ghantakarna is considered in Sanatan Dharma as a devout devotee of Lord Shiva and in Buddhism as an envoy of Bhairav.
Ghantakarna means scary with big ears. It is customary for a bell-ringed man to turn the statues of many other demons and ghosts upside down, and for this, a man in a full blue robe begs for alms from house to house.On this day, it is customary for people to wear a metal ring in the form of a Gathemangal ring.
The custom of knocking on three forts at the main gate to ward off ghosts is another memorable custom of Gathemangal.
According to the children, it is also customary to make a bell-shaped idol of bamboo and leaves and take donations from the wallets.
If someone refuses to donate in this way, the custom of shouting as the grandson of a demon is also amazing and fun.
Lakhe dance also starts from Gathemangal, Lakhe dance lasts for a month.
In ancient times, people used to blame ghosts or vampires for lack of knowledge or information, even though there were common stomach aches or vomiting problems due to water purification, but both God and ghosts were equally attracted to our funerals.
With the development of modern medical system, the process of curing diseases started with medicine, but these things in our culture have come and gone with us as a tradition .Gathemangal, which is a comparison between positive and negative forces and worships positive forces, is not a ghost but a day between excitement and despair.
Gathemangal is a day of excitement, enthusiasm, motivation and a smile.Drama or dance can be seen in the cleaned houses and squares, don’t forget to smile.Welcome to this historic Gathemangal, which carries the history of Gopal Dynasty and Lichhavi Dynasty. Gathemangal is celebrated all over Nepal in its own way. There is also a belief that donations to temples on this day will avert misfortunes including Dasha.
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