Bisket Jatra starts in Bhaktapur-Nepal

Chariot of Bhairab being pulled during the first day of Bisket Jatra at Nyatopol, Bhaktapur on Saturday, April 10, 2010.
Bisket Jatra heralds the start of the Nepali New Year and is celebrated with the most aplomb in Bhaktapur. In one of the most exciting annual events in the Kathmandu valley, a huge and ponderous chariot carrying images of the god Bhairab is hauled by dozens of villagers to Khalna Tole. The creaking and swaying chariot lumbers around town, pausing for a huge tug of war between the eastern and western sides of town. The winners of a tug-of-war are considered blessed with good fortune for the coming year. After the battle the chariots head to Khalna Tole, where a huge 25m-high lingam (phallic symbol) is erected in the stone yoni (female genital symbol) base.This festival goes on for nine days.

In the evening of the following day (New Year’s Day), the pole is pulled down, again in an often-violent tug of war. As the pole crashes to the ground, the New Year officially commences.