THIMI BISKA JATRA PART-5 ( SHREE RAJ GANESH KI JAY )

SHREE RAJ GANESH KI JAY !!! Madhyapur Thimi is an ancient town rich for its temples. Many temples dedicated to different gods and goddesses are located here, including Siddhikali Temple, Dachin Barahi temple, Vaisnavi (Vishnu Bir) temple at Sunga Tole, Prachanda Bhairab temple, Machhindranath (Nepal Bhasa: Janamaadya) temple, an ancient monastery and many temples dedicated to lord Ganesh are some important heritages of Thimi. The Siddhi Ganesh temple and the Nagadesh Buddha Bihar are the important places of Nagadesh of Madhyapur Thimi. Siddhi Ganesh is considered as the son of Balkumari. During the annual Bisket Jatra, the chariot procession used to start only when the chariot of Siddhi Ganesh was taken to the Balkumari premise. Once Nagadesh a demon used to live in Nagadesh. He used to come there whenever he liked and kill people for his meal. The people there promised that they would bring food for him daily. The demon put forward a condition that he would need a person daily as his meal. The people agreed and there was a tradition of arranging the food for the demon by a different family of the village daily. Time passed by. The people in Nagadesh then one day prayed to goddess Balkumari for help. She immediately sent Siddhi Ganesh, her oldest son to the spot to kill the demon. Siddhi Ganesh killed him and when he was about to return the people of Nagadesh requested Sidhi Ganesh to stay there and protect them. Since then Sidhi Ganesh is worshiped as the Aju Dyo of Nagadesh. Similarly, the Bode Layaku, Pacho Ganesh, Kalika temple and Neeel Barahi temple are some important heritages of Bode. The people of Kathmandu valley have been worshiping four Ganesh, four Kali, four Kumari, four Varahi, four Mahalaxmi and four Ganga. Among the four Kumaris, one is Balkumari of Thimi. The temple of Balkumari is said to be about three hundred years old. Goddess Balkumari is regarded as the guardian deity of Thimi and she is the beloved goddess of Thimi. Ceremonial rituals in relation to important events of life including marriage, bratabanda etc. cannot be done without propitiating this deity. The present three storeyed temple of goddess Balkumari was built probably around the 17th century. This temple stands in the brick-paved rectangular courtyard with rest houses around it. There is a temple of lord Bhairab and some small shrines of different gods and goddess spread around the courtyard. The legends regarding the temple of goddess Balkumari say that the merchants from ancient Thimi used to go to Lubhu for trading. One of them established a relationship with the princess of Lubhu. Soon the princess became pregnant. The princess asked the merchant to take her with him. The clever merchant put forward a condition that he would take her with him only if she agrees to bring goddess Balkumari with her to which the princess happily agreed. Since ancient times there were only four Balkumari temples in the Kathmandu Valley. Therefore when the pregnant princess was brought to Thimi, goddess Balkumari was also permanently shifted from Lubhu to Thimi since there could not be more than four major Balkumari temples in the valley. Till now as well to commemorate that a pregnant princess brought the deity, there is a womb like structure just above the idol of the deity inside the ancient temple. Since goddess Balkumari is the primary deity of Thimi, during the annual Biska Jatra, her chariot is not taken to whole Thimi. Her chariot is taken only to the temple of Prachanda Bhairab. It is because, it is believed that the ancient city of Thimi was extended from Balkumari temple in the south and Pranchanda Bhairab temple in the north. Among the four Mahalaxmi of the Kathmandu valley, one is located in Bode of Madhyapur Thimi. Mahalaxmi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity and fortune. She is considered as the younger sister of goddess Balkumari. The people of Bode consider goddess Mahalaxmi as their Ajudeu, mother goddess. This pagoda style two storeyed temple is located in the center of Bode. This temple was constructed around 17th century. Thimi durbar is the ancient palace of Thimi, where Bal Dev stayed. This palace is an ancient palace located in the heart of Thimi. The main idol of the goddess Balkumari which is taken out only in Bisket Jatra to perform jatra is kept here. Similarly, the Layaku Bhairab dance of Thimi is also started from here which is held for the following four nights of Gai Jatra. There are many shrines of gods and goddesses kept in this ancient palace including a temple dedicated to the lord Ganesha and goddess Taleju Bhawani which is opened in the tika of Mohani. Madhyapur Thimi is also famous for pottery and clay works. The people of Thimi (Prajapati) are mostly involve in pottery from the ancient time. The places of Thimi such as Chapacho, Nasanani, Tulanani, Kumanani, Wachunani, Janlanani, Duinani, Digutole, Ganchanani, Tahanani, Pacho, Duwaphalcha, Gungachiwa are the pottery squares of Thimi.