Dipankha Yatra

Dipankha Yatra

Dipankha Yatra

Dipankha Yatra: World’s Largest Religious Walkathon

Dipankha Yatra is possibly the world’s largest religious walkathon of “Neel Thu” (Blue Horned Oxen) associated with the legend of Dipankar (one of the 14 Buddhas). According to the lunar calendar, it takes place only when five auspicious astronomical and astrological features coincide on one day. Furthermore, It is considered one of the longest journeys where the devotees are supposed to travel 60 to 62 km on foot, nearly travelling 25 to 30 hours. Similarly, the procession symbolises religious tolerance among Hindus and Buddhists, where devotees visit 131 temples and monasteries around the Kathmandu Valley.

Similarly, this year it’s on the 18th of October, 2013, as Suarmas Sankranti, Chandramas Purnima, Rewati Nachytra and Harshan Yog fall on the same day. In Nepali, its on 1st of Kartik on Kojagrat Purnima of Dashain. Furthermore, Dipankha Yatra is also a precious walkathon where devotees gain dharma of one tola of gold in each footstep. Hence, this means the devotees who join the precession will get good deeds as they have earned one tola (11.664 gram) of gold on each footstep. People believe that it to be a 900-year-old religious ceremony conducted from Nagbahal.

The Legend behind the Dipankha Yatra:

The legend behind this religious, cultural and social march tells a story of Lord Shakyamuni in one of his previous births when he was born as a Bull of spotless white colour which seemed to be bluish at sight with a sky like a colour horn. The little bull is known in the Newar language as “Neel Thusa” (Blue Bull Calf). Though born as a bull in its previous meritorious deeds made him very compassionate, friendly, joyous and always helpful to suffering creatures. As it grew up, it developed a sense of reverence to Lord Buddha for his human teachings, and as such, after days wandering in doing good to others, he would come to pay homage to Lord Buddha.

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Furthermore, once it so happened that while helping suffering creatures, he was late to report to his duty of paying homage to the Buddha. When he was going to Lord Dipankara Buddha’s monastery, it was dawn. He hid in a nearby place by shining brightly all around the site, and some people moving around saw the bluebell suffering creatures; he was late to report to his duty of paying him an age to the Buddha. When he was on his way to Lord Dipankara Buddha’s monastery, it was dawn, and he hid in a nearby place by shining brightly all around the site. Some people moving around saw the bluebell being turned into a stone bull, but mysteriously there was a mandala where it was petrified.

Furthermore, It was the auspicious day of the full moon of Aswin (September-October). There was a lunar eclipse, and the astrological feature was Harshana. Similarly, the local people thought it a sacred, religious, and auspicious occasion to worship the blue bull calf.

The five features are ;

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)

An outline places (map of Dipankha) of the 131 sites visited are as follows:

  1. Neel Thu(Nagbahal) -> start
  2. Kumbeshwar
  3. Krishna Mandir (Mangal bazar)
  4. Karya Binayak (Bungamati)
  5. Anandadi Lokeshwor (Chobaha)
  6. Hasapota Ganesh (Jhamsikhel)
  7. Ashok Binayak (Maru)
  8. Ichangu Narayan
  9. Pula Swayambhu (Old swayambhu)
  10. Vayupur
  11. Swayambhu Mahachaitya
  12. Indrayani
  13. Naxal Bhagwati
  14. Khasti Chaitya (Boudhanath)
  15. Gujeshwori
  16. Ashok Chaitya (Lagankhel)

Sanju Dongol | Photo : Google | Duke Nepal

Image; Wikimedia Commons