Historic Bhagwati Jatra taking place in Palpa today

लगानी न्यूज

२० भाद्र २०८३, शनिबार १०:१२September 5, 2026

Palpa. The historic Bhagwati Jatra (Rath Yatra) is being taken out in Tansen of Palpa today to celebrate Nepal’s defeat of the British.

TAG_OPEN_div_26 Ashok Maharjan, chairman of the Ranujeshwari Bhagwati Guthi Board of Directors, said that there is a tradition of taking out the chariot procession of Bhagwati on the next day of Krishna Janmashtami every year. Accordingly, the chariot of the 207th Bhagwati is being taken out today.

} The historic Bhagwati Jatra will be taken out from the temple of Bhagwati located in Bhagawati Tole of Tansen Municipality-3 at 12:30 pm today, said Maharjan, chairman of the Board of Directors. He said that there will be no music, crowd and gaiety like in the past years. Maharjan said that the procession is being organized in a restrained and formal manner at a time when the country is reeling under the pain of the Bhotekoshi floods.

Maharjan said that since the country is in a state of mourning, it has been decided not to make unnecessary pomp in the procession this year. He said, “The country is in mourning after the devastating floods in Bhotekoshi caused a huge loss of life and property. Keeping this situation in mind, we have decided to limit the victory festival to a formality only.” According to him, there is no panchebaja and dhime baja like in the past. Maharjan said that the musical instruments of the Nepal Army will be used.TAG_OPEN_div_22

The chariot will be taken out in the presence of high-ranking dignitaries including Lumbini Province Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya. The Bhagwati Rath Yatra will proceed after the Nepal Army circumambulates the temple three times with a salute. It is also known as Bhagwati Jatra, Rath Yatra or Sindur Jatra. The Bhagwati Jatra (Rath Yatra) taken out from the temple of Bhagwati at an auspicious time will be worshipped by the Chief District Officer on behalf of the government and sacrificed after being taken out of the main gate of Sheetalpati.TAG_OPEN_div_20

Rajendra TAG_OPEN_div_18 Gopal Singh, a local, said that the Bhagwati Jatra has been celebrated continuously since 1877 BS in commemoration of Nepal’s victory in Jitgadhi and other areas of Butwal during the war with the British from Poush 1871 to Jestha 1872 BS under the leadership of Colonel Ujir Singh Thapa.

“Before going to the battle of Butwal region, Colonel Thapa had touched the feet of Goddess Bhagwati in the middle of Tansen and vowed that he would build a temple and perform Sindur Jatra and ‘spread the glory of Bhagwati’ to prevent the Butwal region from falling into the hands of the British in the wake of the war in the Jitgadhi area of Butwal.” “After winning the battle in the Jitgadhi area of Butwal twice, Colonel Thapa had announced to construct a three-storied temple with a spire and celebrate the ninth day of Bhadra Krishna Paksha every year since 1977 BS,” said the senior citizens.

} The name of the temple, which is being run as a victory procession due to the defeat of the British in the war, has also been famous from Ranujireshwari. The Palpa commander of the then Nepal Army, Colonel Ujir Singh Thapa, had vowed to build a three-storey temple if he won in the war before going to the war. After winning the war, Colonel Thapa started celebrating Bhagwati Jatra on the next day of Krishna Janmashtami from 1877 BS as a victory festival. This tradition has been going on till today, said the local Singh.