Tourist Attractions in Bhaktapur:
Pancha
dan in Bhaktapur during Gunla festival:
Panchadan
celebrated on the day of ‘Krishna Trayodasi’ in the month of Srawan
(August/September). In Bhaktapur Panchadan is celebrated differently. Annually,
on this auspicious day five statues of Dipankara Buddha are decorated and manually
carried around Bhaktapur backed with traditional music known as ‘ponga.’ During
sacred tour the Dipankars stop at predetermined places such as
Dattatreya square, Golmadhi, Sakotha, Dudhpati and Taumadi where offerings of food: mainly grains and fruit are
presented to them. Once they reach Sakotha they are showered with holy
water and flowers. Ultimately, at Kuthu bahi, puja takes places.‘Pancha dan’ actually means offerings of
flowers, fruits, grains grown on earth. In Bhaktapur both Buddhists and non-Buddhists provide offerings to Dipankars
with immense pleasure. Offerings are also given to the monks and tutelary
priests by the laity and in return, they bless the providers. Five types of
items utilised at Panchadan are: incense for ‘puja,’ food includes wheat, rice
grains, pulses, lentils etc, jaggery and fruit juice. Offerings of medicinal
food includes ‘amala,’ ‘hal.’ Salt, oil and regular usage materials include
needle, thread, rope, white cloth, brooms, chalk, ‘kasaya bastra,’ seat. During this event money is also gifted. Every year prior to two days of the
auspicious day of Pancha dan father's day (Buwa ko mukh herne din) takes place according
to the lunar calendar.
The story of Bhaktapur Dipankar Buddha goes like this: In the city of
Ambarapati prince Dipankar was born to the King Sudev and the Queen Sumedha.
The prince spent 1000 years as a householder. In the course of his life he sees
the old, sick, dead and a monk. Hence, he felt sad and renounced worldly life.
Initially he meditated for ten months and achieved ‘das paramita,’ became aware
of four noble truths and eventually enlightened converting to ‘Samyak
Sambuddha.’ According to Jataka tales Dipankar Tathagat is senior to Sakyamuni
Buddha therefore, Dipankar Tathagat is regarded as the main Buddha.
The word ‘dan’ connotes to give something; it could be religious gifts
or anything usually useful given to the needy. Anyone can give ‘dan’ with clean
mind. From the perspective of Buddhism offerings include inviting monks for a
meal/s, providing needy materials to monks such as chibar, bastra, diyo,
pindapatra, ausadhi, chhata, jutta etc, giving land to build stupa, vihar,
physical necessities, labour and money and also to serve the old, sick and poor
people selflessly.
Among ‘Das paramita’ or ten Buddhist perfections ‘dan paramita,’ is the
foremost. To achieve ‘dan paramita’ one has to detach completely from loved
family members and sacrifice one’s physique if needed.
Buddhist laity depending to their capability prepare offerings
collection at their associated vihars or homes on Panchadan. Around these accumulated
offerings figures of Dipankar Tathagat, Buddha, Boddhisatwa, Tara, Lokeswara,
Karunamaya, Basundhara and other deities are displayed.
Panchadan
parva in Bhaktapur is not only related to Sakya, Vajracharyas but also
Manandhar, Prajapati, Suwal, Duwal, Chitrakar etc of various castes’ guthi are
related. Not only this but all newars of Bhaktapur regard Panchadan as a
festival.
Sakyas
and Bajracharyas in Kathmandu, Patan, Banepa and Panauti also observe Pancha
dan.
Chaturvarna
Mahavihar or Ta-dhi Chhen:
Because it is located just off the
east area of the Bhaktapur Durbar Square Chaturvarna Mahavihar is visited by
tourists more compared to other vihars. The baha architectural structure of
Chaturvarna mahavihar is original. It is one continuous building surrounding a
courtyard. The main entrance from the street is guarded by metallic lions.
Wooden torana over the doorway depicts Lokeswor. The doorway opens to ‘falcha’
facing the courtyard. Opposite the main entrance and towards the south is
Sahasrabhuja - Padampani Lokeswore, kwapadya.
The entrance of kwapadya is flanked by two stone lions and bells. The
metallic torana depicts Sahasrabhuja. The shrine of Dipankara is located in the
northeast corner of the complex. By its side there is a ‘falcha.’ A traditional eatery at the southeast corner
offers ‘wo’, a newari pancake made of lentil. The courtyard is square-shaped
with a miniature stupa at the center, a stone carved mandala, chaitya atop a
pillar and a small tree. At the western space of the courtyard there is a
prayer wheel and the rest of the space is used for recitations during Gunla.
The origin of the Baha is dated back to 1478 A.D. Tadhichhen is exemplary of
how a baha originally looks.
‘Chudakarma’ ritual takes place here to sons of many members of baha
sangh. Initially, the Tadhichhen baha consisted of eighty-two families.
Religious rites take place twice a day. Just outside the wall of Sidhapokhari
in the north side goddess Guheswori is placed. She is the lineage deity of the
sangh. On ‘dugu puja’ or Diwali, the members come here to worship every year.
In Magh, a festival takes place inside the baha.
