Welcome to Phulchowki Mai Temple, which is located in thaiba ward 14 of Godawari Municipality. In Godavari municipality, Gajendra Maharjan is the Mayor, whereas Muna Adhikari as Deputy Mayor. While Niroj Bajracharya is the Ward Chairman in Ward number-14.
The ward members of ward-14 are (Lakshmi Narayan Shrestha, Baburaja Maharjan, Sanjita Shrestha, Kamala Pariyar).
Phulchoki Mai and Cholecho (Sidra) Jatra:
On the day of Falgun Shukla Ashtami, the festival of Holi begins with the installation of flags at various places. However, the Jatra starts from the full moon day of February. On the first day of Purnima, after doing other work like cleaning the house and sweeping, a special meal called “Choyala Bhu” is prepared and enjoyed. On this day the priests perform animal sacrifice and chakra pooja at various places.
On the second day of the full moon, which is known as the main festival, deities are invited and worshiped in Phulchoki Mai temple and other temples. On the third day, known as the Sinhayaka day, close relatives and friends are invited to witness the procession and have a delicious feast.
Cholecho Jatra is one of the major traditional Jatras in Kathmandu Valley. Although other Jatras give importance to various gods and goddesses, in this Jatra mainly Cholecho i.e. Goat is honored. Although there is no accurate historical evidence, it is believed that this festival has been celebrated since ancient times. However, this Jatra is often associated with the Harisidhi Bhavani Jatra. Jatras are brought from Phulchoki and celebrated together and these jatras are held together.
On the day of Phalgun Purnima, after the Guthi completes the feast with Gajabaza, the idols of the thirteen goddesses of Vishnu Devi are kept in Khat within the Vishnu Devi temple premises. Around 10/11 a.m. Holi is played in Vishnudevi premises with the participation of Guthiyar, general public and Nauthari Bhaladami. After receiving the offerings and sacrifices offered individually by Guthi and individual worshipers at various places in the sequence of Vishnudevi Khat Jatra, Khat Phulchoki Mai reaches the temple area, where it stops and ends the night Vishnudevi Jatra. Guthiar and common people go their way Cholecho. The Guthiyars involved in the Jatra go to bring back the Goddess.
After the completion of the Vishnudevi festival, the Guthiyars of Jalchapa wrap the temple with a cloth i.e. curtain so that no one can see inside and outside. In the Khatkolo of Cholecho Jatra, the Hakuwa race also decorates the hill with rice (Bakja: wood branches are used to create a forest scene and according to a popular belief, Mahadev, in the form of an antelope, remains invisible within them. The iron ring around the temple is called the village wall. According to legend, the people of Damaitar village, beyond the village of Thaiva, sometimes burn fierce fires. They see and surround the village with the above-mentioned fence.
The next morning around 8/10 am, the wrapped veil is removed to make the deity. At the beginning, it is said that the ‘gamo ulegu’, that is, the Cholecho kept in the Khadkulo, should be opened, then it is opened for the general public for prayers. At this time, in the Phulchokimai complex, there is a symbol of Mahadev, Cholecho (Siddah), Vishnu Devi Mai’s Khat, Phulchokimai’s Khat, as well as the Goddess’s Khat. The statue of Phulchoki Mai established in Thayav is placed in Khat. In all of them, the common people offer prayers and sacrifices. This sequence lasts for about 1/2 hour. At around 4/5 in the afternoon, in the presence of Jalchapa Guthiyar, Antal Chapa Guthiyar, Kwathchapa Guthiyar and common people, the horses of Maithan, under the guidance of Bajagaja and other gods and goddesses, reach Tangadhwakha towards the south and gradually climb the rocky ridge to Antalchapa i.e. Antal tol, Maknani tol, and the Peepal tree of Kwathnani. Cholecho from Mandapa: The other deities approach the north door as if fleeing from the Devi’s palace. Within 4 days of the completion of the Jatra, they go to Phulchoki Mai (now the hill where NTC stands) and stop the deity invited during the Jatra and ask for forgiveness if the deity is not satisfied during the Jatra.
Around Vishnudevi Temple
There is a temple called Vishnu Devi Pith in the northern part of Thaiva. Vishnu Devi is called Dipaya Dyah, which refers to the deity associated with the cremation ghat. This area where the temple is located is also known as “Depakhya”. Initially, the locals used to cremate dead bodies at this place, but due to the increase in population, cremation is now done in the river Godavari. In the temple complex, there are 13 temples including Dolakha Bhimsen temple, Gorakhnath temple, various deities, the sacred statue of Sankhu’s Bajrayogini brought from Dolakha.
Jatra of Vishnu Devi
Under the leadership of Antalachapa (guthi), the pilgrimage of Vishnu Devi takes place twice a year. This festival is celebrated along with Phulchoki Maijatra on the third day (Dwitiya) of the full moon of the month of Kartik and the third day of the month of February. Kartik Purnima Jatra is also called Jatra. During the Kartik Jatra, the Guthiyars of Antal Chapa have a feast in the evening on the eve of the full moon, and the villagers perform a khat jatra with 13 brass idols along with utensils and take them to the Vishnudevi temple premises. That night, the idols of the goddess are placed in the stone idols and the goldsmiths and the villagers return home. The next day, Jalchapa, Antal chapa and Kwath chapa, three types of Guthi are performed in front of the Pith in the village so that there is no obstacle on the way. This homa is also known as Sasavati Mahayagya.
According to the tantric method, a snake, a pair of fish and a pair of sparrows are offered along with the contents of the homa. Villagers come to worship with firewood and satbeez (a mixture of seven grains). After the successful completion of the Homa program, the Ghyampos filled with karthvan (thick sand) prepared by the above mentioned three guthis in the Ghyampo reflecting Bhairav are sent to the temple premises. Gyampos are also known as “Kwan Dya”. Locals who come to watch the Jatra are fed Samayabazi and Chatmari.
Around 4 or 5 pm in the evening, after bringing the idols of the deities made of brass to their respective places in the Vishnu Devi temple, the procession begins with bazaagaza and festivities in the village. There is a tradition that after entering the Khatma from the place where there is more movement of people, one should take the Ghyampas.
Farmers used to dry paddy at the place where Phulchoki Mavi is now and where Musad Danda (currently Phulchoki College) is located. For that reason, it was a rule to come to the same place in the evening to light the lamp. Currently, this rule has disappeared. It is understood that the Cholecho Jatra of Thaiba has been going on continuously since the year 744 in Nepal Sambat.
