Nepal commemorating Gathamuga The demon effigy’s burning
Gathamuga, a Newar festival celebrated on Krishna Chaturdashi in Shrawan, involves street vendors selling items and children building demon effigies. Rooted in mythology and agricultural tradition, it combines rituals, folklore, and symbolism to drive away evil spirits and purify homes. Gathamuga, a festival originating during the Lichhavi period, is a community cleansing ritual that emphasizes the importance of spiritual and structural strength within homes. The name, derived from the Newar language, means house, pillars, and strong, indicating the significance of maintaining cleanliness during the monsoon season. This ritual is believed to prevent negative energy buildup and allow evil spirits to take shelter inside homes. The mythology revolves around the demon ‘Ghantakarna’, who terrorized communities with a loud bell.
He spread fear and consumed people. One monsoon, frogs drowned the demon’s bell, and people worship them for saving them. This legend remains central to the mythology. Ras Joshi, a culture expert, explains that Gathamuga, a festival in Newar, not only reflects myth but also embodies psychological cleansing through the creation and burning of demon effigies. Newar households deep-clean their homes during the festival, using effigies of ‘Ghantakarna’ to represent chaos. Children collect donations for these effigies. Home rituals include a ‘puja’, a’makal’, and a ‘bau wayegu’ ritual. Items like rice, raw meat, garlic, spices, and flowers are offered to spirits for protection. As the sun sets, effigies are set on fire, symbolizing the destruction of evil, the removal of disease, and a renewed community strength.
