Deepankha Yatra, 2070

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The piles of Kislis being offered before Deepankha Yatra

Deepankha Yatra, peace march, one more adventurous time in my life;60 km walk since 2am,1^st Kartik till 1pm 2^nd Kartik. People approximate about 30 hours walk, but for me it takes almost 35 hours. Every people take part enthusiastically. Their enthusiasm and encouragement motivates us to move ahead too. The Offering of Kisli prior, a day before was like a commitment that one was going to attend the pious journey.

Dipankha Yatra (also spelt Deepankha Yatra, Dipankar Yatra) is a pious journey that takes place around the heart of Nepal "The Kathmandu Valley". Devotees walk through the journey to 131 religious destinations within 2 days. The occurance of the Yatra (Travel)is decided by the astrological calender. Dipankha Yatra is mostly celebrated by Buddhist as well as Hindu Newars of valley, the followers are guided by Gurjus of Newar community. It takes place only when the following five events fall on the same day:

1. Sauryamas Sankranti (First day in solar calendar)
2. Chandramas Purnima (Full moon)
3. Rewati Nachetra (An astrological event)
4. Harshan Yog (An astrological event)
5. Chandra Graham (Lunar Eclipse)

It is believed that a single step in the Yatra equals the Punya gained upon offering 1 tola of gold. The procession begins at Nagbahal, Patan at dawn and ends at Mahalaxmisthan the following day.

There are different legendary tales as to how the procession began in the 17th century. One legend says the procession began during the Malla period, mainly to ease the then brewing tensions between Hindus and Buddhists in the valley on the issue of forced conversion. Another legend says Shakyamuni Buddha was born in Nepal in the form of a blue bull. The bull went round all the places and finally disappeared at a place called Nagbahal in Lalitpur. People started worshipping this idol and began the procession considering it as a disciple of Gautam Buddha.

NAGBAHAL DEEPANKHA

I enjoyed my journey with Jaya, Prashneel ji, Kriti, Shristi and Norin. After offering Kisli, I stayed at Rabina’s home since I had to wake up early and attend the procession since 2 am. Aunt humbly instructs and helps me to work out for procession. As the procession starts, the long route begin with the large mass of people walking like a march pass. We too joined them. The whole way continues following the march and offering the Jwou/Charia/offering of pooja like barley or rice at all the 131 religious temples and monuments.

The devotes in the dark night ,with the passionate walk starts from Nagbahal of Lalitpur and moves ahead to Krishna Mandir (Mangalbazar), Tangal, Maha Laxmisthan and Sikhidegal respectively.

JAL BINAYAK

The journey starts being more interestingly after that when there starts being like a jam of the crowded devotees in the congested road. People start searching and walking through the shortcuts and we were following them. Staying over an hour to cross the bridge of Bungmati, and crossing the cold water of river. Slippery way to Khokhana and the muddy way were impressive. The shortcut way all over the dhan baris (field of rice).At dawn, when we look behind, it seems like the line of small ants, were the devotees on line uncountable…more than thousands in number. Visiting the temples including Sano Khokhana, the procession was being too enjoying. It was almost 8:30 -9 am when we reached Jal Binayak.

The way from Khokana, we were quite amazed by the village people offering us tea, juice, Glucose water, asking for rest and rest rooms with humble care and charmness. It’s like a feeling of being pleased then. It is said that the devotees of this Yatra earns Punya equals to donating 1 tola (11 gram) of gold and the serves of these devotees earns Punya too.

On the way to Kraya Binayak we also rest on, enjoying the ping time with full refreshment too. After visiting Kraya Binayak and the high hills of Chovar, we went a long way, crosses Sanepa, there were volunteers on the whole route for guidance. The signs of the Yatra and the route as well as the map in our hand help us a lot. In addition the resting areas, first aid camps refreshment serve by people like glucose water, tea biscuits, lemon water, even lemon with salt…well refreshing one too encouraged us a lot.

Our refreshment via Ping tym

We reached Pachali almost at 12 noon; many people were starting to have legaches, blisters and sole pain. Many were served with soak hot water and camp care, which helped them a lot. All devotees continue the walking respectively with Teku, Marutole, Tankeshwor, and Tahachal with the constant enthusiasm.

BUDDHA BIHAR AT SWOYAMBHU

The Volunteers helped us. The devotees were offered halls, polo, juice biscuits and so on. The march moves on to Chhauni, Kinubahi, Sitapaila, Ichangu Narayan and Halchowk. As the hills of Chovar was impressive with the view of Kathmandu valley at morning. Here starts the way of hills of Sitapaila and Ichangu, the journey starts being tough. It almost 3 hills we had to climb up and down. Many devotees complain of leg pain, cramps, seeking for pain killers and crepe bandaging now.

As the journey proceeds, reaching the temple/monument ahead out of 131, are becoming more and more precious for us. One more hill of Swoyambhunath was still ahead. We were being tired and my leg ache was being more intense from then. With periodical rest and slow walk, we reached at the top of Swoyambhunath at almost 6-7 pm and at Swobha Bhagwati at 8pm.

We had some snacks over there. Prashneel ji was quite encouraging so does the appreciable Jaya, and the enthusiastic girls in our group. The crowded march of devotees seems thinner now. We were amazed to see the minimal devotees and afraid too about how could we get the walk overnight. With full enthusiasm, despite leg ache we all moved on. After some pace, Jaya and Prashneel ji were missed. Assertively thinking they might catch us later, we moved on. There was something like fright of not seeing other devotees we move on faster, well I just can’t say which way comes when at that time. We just followed on the way we met volunteers.

DEVI TEMPLE

The way of Chhertrapati, Thamel, Shorakhutte, Mehypii, Samakhushi and Ranibari.  We went on and were relaxed to see the other devotees tired similar as us and walking and resting in first aid camps.It’s almost 11-12 midnight. The road seems dark clear but safe as there were volunteers and police posting for showing us the way of Yatra.

The role of the volunteer, Police and the people were really great and admirable. The probably will receive the pious merit for their deeds; serving the devotees. The health camp, first aid treatment, hot water soaks, massages, bandaging, health aids; even lemon and lemon juice helps a lot. The most I was impressed was of their heartily servings, charming face and encouraging words.

Departing the forest of Raniban, walking with painful legs we moved towards Lazimpat and Narayanhiti Durbar. I had never seen the busy road of Kathmandu so silence till date.

The way on to Nagpokhari, Naxal, Bhatbhateni and on to Dhumbarai. It was almost 1am.We were too tiresome, we had met Jaya and Prashneel ji again and again and depart again. The situation was quite hard. None, among four of us, me,Kriti, Shristi and Norin, where at the state of walking faster or even to anticipate how long we had to walk to reach Boudha and take rest. With harder step we reached Chabahil Ghanesthan.

Mahankal and Boudha were far. It was true that even a step was harder for us to take. But motivationally we were able to reach there. There were a numbers of devotees resting there. It was almost 2 am. The first group, who had reach ether in first hours, were preparing to be ready for depart for continuing walk.

I felt so hard that there wasn’t health camp and I was feeling so sick, tired, feeling like heat, feverish, even the oral painkiller isn’t working, unable to rest neither to move an inch of my leg. Jaya and Prashneel ji reached about 3 am. I asked for paracetamol and moov spray from them. After having it and bandaging, it felt a relief at almost 4 am. Unfortunately we couldn’t even rest for half an hour, The Deepankha Guruju asked everyone to wake up and prepare for Yatra at 4:30 am.

It seems like we had relieved a lot from yesterday’s painful leg. We depart from there at 5:30 am. Well, it seems so obvious that people will easily recognize us as Deepankha Devotees with the clumsy walk and words “Aaiya” and “Aouuch” while stepping up and down. The gait of our walking seems funnier for us as well.

Moving the way to Jaya Bhageswori, Pashupatinath, Gujheshwori, Bankali and Pingalasthan. Norin, Kriti and Shristi had quite quick pace, so rest three of us were on our way slowly. Jaya was supportive and encouraging, Prahneel ji was motivate even with such moor condition of swollen legs and me irritating always asking to move on with them. Moving down the way to Bhimsengola, people were asking us for tea, biscuits, their humble requests, and other congratulating for our walks seems so motivational.

The police and Deepankha Gurujus were also there encouraging. Down the way to Shantinagar, taking rest and moving on towards Koteshwor Mahadev and continued our procession. Reached back to Lalitpur district, passes over Shankhamul, Manohora River. All the way seems near but twisted to visit these monuments. After we reached Balkumari, we felt that we missed the way; it’s really obvious that one feels annoying for oneself while we felt lost after long walk. But it felt funnier while remembering now. Anyways, we finally catch up the way sooner.

The volunteers and the local people including the first aiders’ servers were always there to help us. The jwau/charai on the ways, seems like, the pathfinder that we were on the right way. Batuk Bhairab was our second last place. After then, we had Sagun from the Guruju and greet appreciably.

The last walk of the Yatra towards Mahalaxmisthan was with the eagerness that we were almost near to completion of this pious procession. When we reached there, we felt so delighted, free, blank minded… no stress, no tension, sense of accomplishment and simply calmness. All the yesterday pain wasn’t there. We were just happy with tiresome state and charming face. Then, Back to Batuk Bhairab where we received Sagun and Tika from family/guardians.

Here ends the wonderful Deepankha Yatra Of my life with sweet and best memories, I ever had. Really as Jaya have said, it had become a motivational deed, I am inspired to move on ahead.