As the entire nation prepares for the grand celebration of Dashain, the village of Khokana located south of Lalitpur gears up for the festival of Rudrayani. Popularly known as “Sikali Jatra”, the celebration trumps even the great festival of Dashain. The citizens of this once great kingdom celebrate the Sikali Jatra instead of Dashain.
A celebration of a total of five days, which begins from Ghatasthapana and concludes on the day of Fulpati. The celebration is centered around the patron deity of the town of Khokhana, the goddess Rudrayani commonly known as Maheshvari. She is believed to be the Shakti of Lord Mahes(Shiva) also known as Maheswar. She is also a form of goddess Parvati is known by many names such as Rudrayani, Shankari, Shivani and Mahesi which are derived from the names of Lord Shiva Rudra, Shiv, Shankar and Mahesh.
The festival and the cultural dance depicted during the day of Fulpati is believed to be linked with the origin of the city of Khokhana. The city is believed to have been founded by King Amar Malla during the 15th century of the Medieval Malla Era. The Malla during their reign established various temples which were dedicated to the Matrika’s (Mother Goddesses), to protect there individual cities for various epidemics, illnesses and to protect their kingdom. The temples of the Asta Matrika’s were placed in eight cardinal directions on the border of each kingdom.
The goddess Rudrayani in the Newar pantheon is worshipped as one of the Matrika’s. It is believed that the town of Khokana came into existence after the establishment of the temple. King Amar Malla had migrated the Maharjan’s and Dangol’s who resided in Pachali Bhairav to the Khokhana for catering and maintaining the temple. During the foundation of the Kingdom, the city was known to be as Jitapur.
The current name of Khokana is derived from the Newari words, “Kho:” which means to weep and “Kana” means to tell. Legend has it that once, a Maharjan priest of Pachali Bhairav of Kathmandu fainted due to high cold fever. After which the Vaidya feeling his cold body pronounced him dead and thus he was taken to the bank of Bagmati to be cremated. His body was accompanied by his wife who was to place in the pyre as “Sati”.
When the pyre was just alighted, a heavy storm broke which caused huge rains to occur which caused the people who had gathered during the cremation and arrangements to run to shelter leaving the pyre. As the pyre burned, the priest became conscious. The people of the community didn’t allow him and his wife to enter the city as they feared a bad omen. The couple then ran weeping all the way and settled in Kudesh; (Ku meaning Bad and Desh meaning country) which is believed to have been the north-west of present Khokana. It is said that the Goddess Sikali Devi blessed them and a new settlement was established. After a while, the people from the opposite bank of the river began harassing them and for their safety, they shifted towards high ground east of Kudesh. This settlement started by the weeping couple is believed to be the origin of Khokana. Today the place known as Kudesh is a ruin and due to the lack of archaeological expedition, this place has been lost to time.
During the festival of Sikali, on the final day which aligns with Fulpati, a special skit is performed by the elders of the community. The skit is presented in a form of archaic storytelling with traditional music and individuals dressed in godly attire adorned with the masks of the deities and demons. The day before which, the deities are taken to the temple of Sikali in avid fanfare, which gathers a huge crowd to witness the spectacle and take blessings of the deities.
Due to the strict norms and regulations of the community, and a lack of research the festival is prone to lose much of its heritage with the passing generation. With all the knowledge of the rites and process in the minds of the Thakali (Eldest) and the norms forbidding the young to directly participate. The great festival of Rudrayani, which holds huge cultural values is slowly facing the same faith as many masked dances in the valley.
Currently the Sikali Jatra is celebrated twice in the lunar cycle, first during Gai Jatra after which in the five days of Dashain which begins from Gathasthapana and ends on Fulpati.
