BHAKTAPUR: The Nyatapola (Five story) temple in Bhaktapur, which is listed in the World Heritage List, has entered 320. marks the 319th anniversary of the 320th anniversary of the temple with special worship.
Every year, on the day of Asar Shukla Pratipada, there is a tradition of celebrating the birth anniversary of the temple with a special pooja and hoisting the flag in the top of (gajur) of the temple. A large red moon-shaped flag is flown over the white cloth.
Padam Karmacharya, one of the four original priests of Taleju, said that the flag was hoisted after the pooja due to the Corona epidemic. Earlier, it was customary to sacrifice a goat in worship. No goats were sacrificed last year because of Corona.
There is a tradition of worshiping in the temple with the priests of Rajupadhyaya, Karmacharya, Joshi, Rajbhandari and Talchabhadel. The Awals of Tuchimala Tol fly the flag at the gate of the temple. There is a tradition of not allowing anyone to enter the temple except Awal of Tuchimala Tol who has special experience and profession in house building work to keep the flag in the temple.
Like every year, this year too, about a dozen Awals went up to the temple and hoisted the flag at Gajur. Four people were sitting in the four corners of Gajur to make the flag. The 20-, 25-foot-long, 66-inch-wide, 44-inch-wide cloth flag was flown. Bhaktapur Guthi Sansthan has been providing financial assistance to those who have to work at the risk of their lives.
Similarly, Ram Chandra Awal said that a petition has been filed in Guthi Sanstha Bhaktapur demanding to insure the lives of those who go to the temple gate and fly the flag at risk and increase it as there is not enough cash of Rs 12,000. In Nepal Sambat 822, King Bhupatendra Malla had started the first Barsabandha (Busada) Puja on the day of Asar Shukla Paksha Pratipada. Cultural expert Atom Dhaubhadel said that it has been continuing till now. Guthi Bhaktapur bears all the expenses for the puja.
The 2072 earthquake did not cause any major damage except for a slight wall collapse on the top floor. Its reconstruction work has been completed last year.
