Bisket Jatra kicks off in Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur: One of the popular religious festivals observed by Newari clan in Kathmandu valley- well known as Bisket (Biska) jatra -has kicked off in Bhaktapur from Saturday (today) amidst great pomp and show.

The nine days festival celebration in Kathmandu valley has greater historical and cultural significances according to the organizer of the festival.

The festival began with the pulling of the chariot of Bhaila Kha: (Bhairabnath) from the Nyatapola (five-storey) temple in Taumadhi earlier Saturday.

The three-storey chariot made of wood in the pagoda style is pulled and pushed by the local youths around the settlements with the statues of Bhairavnath and Betal well decorated and revered as a part of this festival.

The festival is being celebrated despite the increasing pandemic of Covid-19 by adopting safety measures in a move to retain the tradition of the religious festival. The celebration was allowed after the Supreme Court issued an interim order not to halt the festival.