Welcome to Swet Barahi Temple located in Badegaun of Ward 14 of Godawari Municipality.
In Godawari municipality, Gajendra Maharjan is the Mayor, whereas Muna Adhikari as Deputy Mayor. Wile 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).
Swet Barahi
There are four barahis in the Kathmandu Valley: Swet Barahi, Nil Barahi, Dhumbarahi, and Bajra Barahi. Swet Barahi is the oldest among them. It is located in Godawari Municipality, Ward No. 14. Nil Barahi can be found in Thimi, Bhaktapur. Dhumbarahi is situated near Hadigaun in Kathmandu. Lastly, Bajra Barahi is located in Godawari Municipality, Ward No. 11. These Barahis hold cultural and historical significance for the people in the region.
Myths and Legend of Swet Barahi
According to the legend, there was once a belief that the forest surrounding Swet Barahi, a revered deity, was made of gold. One day, a king from Bhaktapur visited Swet Barahi with the intention of worshiping her and presenting a gold plate as an offering. However, upon reaching the location, the king was astonished to find that the entire forest was indeed made of gold. Realizing that offering a small gold plate would be insignificant compared to the grandeur of the golden forest, he decided to change his plan. On his way back to the palace, he offered the gold plate to Mahalakshmi, another deity.
In the Newari language spoken in Nepal, a gold plate is known as “luyagu bhu.” As a result of this incident, the place where the king made his offering came to be known as Lubhu, derived from the Newari term for a gold plate.
Jatras of Swet Barahi
Swet Barahi Jatra is a significant festival celebrated in a village that revolves around the worship of the goddess Swet Barahi. There are five guthis, or religious organizations, involved in the festivities. The jatra, or procession, takes place twice a year on Mangsir Purnima and Falgun Purnima, which are full moon days in the Nepali months of Mangsir and Falgun. During the jatra, both idols of Swet Barahi are ceremoniously carried around the village before being taken to the temple.
There are two idols of Swet Barahi involved in the festival. One of the idols is kept securely with the guthiyar (caretaker) of the respective guthis whose turn it is to safeguard the idol. Previously, the idol used to be kept within the guthi, but it was unfortunately stolen in the year B.S. 2034. The other idol is brought every Saturday and placed in the temple in the morning. This particular idol is entrusted to the Bajracharyas, a priestly caste. As a result, people who visit the temple on Saturdays have the opportunity to worship the goddess.
On the day of the jatra, both idols are joyously paraded around the village. This grand procession allows devotees to express their reverence and seek blessings from Swet Barahi. The jatra serves as a vibrant celebration of faith and cultural heritage, uniting the community in devotion and celebration.
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