Dipankha Yatra

The Dipankha Yatra is a grand religious festival, considered one of Nepal’s most important examples of religious tolerance, deeply rooted in the traditions of the historic and ancient city of Lalitpur. Held in Nagbahal, this festival is a source of pride for the devoted followers of the Nepal Mandala, embodying the religious, social, and cultural heritage of the country.

According to religious scriptures, particularly the Vrishavadan, the Bodhisattva Shakyamuni Buddha once took the form of a bull, named "Shri Neel Mahavrisaratna." Over time, this incarnation was placed in the Yogambara Guhyalaya of the famous Hiranya Varna Mahavihar in Lalitpur. However, through deception, the bull deity was taken to Kailash, located at Pashupati, and imprisoned there. When efforts were made to return Shri Neel to Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, the bull deity, due to various rituals involving riddhi-siddhi (spiritual powers), tantric practices, and attraction rites, wandered for three months, unable to settle. During this period, Vrishadev stayed at various stupas, temples, and shrines before finally reaching Yogambara Chakrasthal, where he attained enlightenment at the current Itilnhe Nagbahal.

The Dipankha Yatra refers to the religious pilgrimage in which devotees offer their respects by walking through the sacred sites where Shri Neel Mahavrisaratna rested during his return from Pashupati. This tradition involves an arduous, all-night pilgrimage on foot, taking place on rare days when five auspicious alignments occur. This year, Dipankha Yatra will be celebrated with grandeur on Friday, October 18, 2013 (Nepal Sambat 1133, Ashwin Shukla Purnima), with the participation of thousands of devotees from across Nepal Mandala.

As for the significance of Dipankha, it is celebrated only when the rare conjunction of five astrological events occurs on the same day: 

  1. the solar month’s Sankranti (transition), 
  2. the lunar month’s full moon, 
  3. Revati Nakshatra (constellation), 
  4. Harsha Yoga (auspicious alignment), and 
  5. Sunday (Adityawar) 

However, historical records indicate that the Dipankha Yatra has also been organized on days other than Sundays when such rare alignments occur.