Gatha-Muga: The Festival to Honor Demon

Gatha-Muga: The Festival to Honor Demon

Gatha-Muga or Ghantakarna is one of the most ancient festivals of Nepal, which comes every year on the fourteenth day of dark fornight of Shrawan (July-August). This festival comes first in the series of other festivals to follow round the year. It is interesting to note that this day is marked as a big day for the boys.Hence it is also know as the "Festival of Boys". As a matter of fact, it is always the boys who take the most active part on this occasion.

         On this day the effigy of the monster made of reeds is set up at every crossroad. As a legend goes, long time ago, a monster called Ghantakarna came to the Kathmandu Valley to devour people. But before he could endanger the inhabitants of the city they killed him. Ever since the Newar community have been celebrating this day as a big festival. Every neighborhood has thus one of these monster effigies and a group of boys to look after that. From the very early morning on this day quite a number of them are seen standing round the effigy in the street and collecting jagats (a kind of ceremonial toll) from the passersby and vehicles. With the collection the boys buy things necessary for the funeral of Ghantakarna

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       When the evening falls they tie up the effigy with a strong rope, kick it several times and then drag it.away shouting wild slogans until they reach a riverbank where they burn it and then throw it away into the water. Then they all come all the way home singing a kind of victory song.

       It is said that after Ghantakarna is dragged down to the river nobody is supposed to be hanging around outside lest the dead monster should come back and avenge his humiliation. So, many elderly people never forget to lock up their doors soon after they see the Ghantakarna off. Women sweep the house and throw away the dust suspecting that some evil spirits might be still lingering around it. Some people drive the iron nails on the lintels of their doorways to check the devils from entering their house. Iron nails are considered very good at checking the advent of evil spirits. People also wear iron rings on their fingers

 on this day to safeguard against the attack of the evil spirits.

        Although this festival is celebrated all over Nepal, people belonging to different parts celebrate it in different ways following their own local tradition. For example, in Bhadgaon they celebrate it in a manner of mourning whereas Kathmanduites do it with great feelings and fun. The kathmanduites pick up a boy (from lower class) who is quite strong and skillful. He is dressed like one in mourning and his face painted to make him look like descendent of Ghantakarna. Then he goes around the neighbourhood to beg for alms for the funeral of 'his grandfather' Ghantakarna . When it gets dark, the funeral rites of the effigy is performed by that boy before finally setting it on fire and throwing it into the water. This marks the end of the festival.