Shikali Jatra is a religious festival of

Newar people Newar (; new, नेवार, endonym: Newa; new, नेवा, Pracalit script:) or Nepami, are the historical inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley and its surrounding areas in Nepal and the creators of its historic heritage and civilisation ...

Khokana Khokana is a former Village Development Committee (VDC) which has been merged with the neighbouring VDC's of Bungamati, Chhampi, Dukuchhap, Sainbu and other 38 VDC's to form the Metropolitan City of Lalitpur in Lalitpur District in the Bagmat ...

of the

Kathmandu Valley The Kathmandu Valley ( ne, काठमाडौं उपत्यका; also known as the Nepal Valley or Nepa Valley ( ne, नेपाः उपत्यका, Nepal Bhasa: 𑐣𑐾𑐥𑐵𑑅 𑐐𑐵𑑅, नेपाः गाः)), ...

. The jatra is performed in Dashain by the people who do not celebrate the Dashain festival. The Jatra is five days long and is dedicated to the goddess Shikali (also called ''

Ajima Ajima (Nepal Bhasa:अजिमा) is a group of goddesses of the Newar pantheon. These goddesses are respected by all sects and castes of Newars, both from Hindu and Buddhist religion. If we look Ajimas from sky, they look like a sword. So, it ...

''). The goddess Shikali is one of the sisters of goddess in Dakshinkali. The Shikali's temple is located in Khokana. In Khokana there are three major communities namely Tagu, Salagu and Jagu. On the day of Jatra, four virgin boys each from Tagu and Salagu is selected to worship Shikali. The locals wears masks to represent 14 Hindu gods and goddesses. Masked dances is performed following tantric rituals. The dancers wears colourful attires. A wooden chariot of goddess Rudrayani is carried on the streets and finally set at the Shikali temple. The procession is led by a Newar priest wearing white robe.

References

Festivals in Nepal {{Nepal-stub