BHAKTAPUR, Bhaktapur's traditional historical and cultural Kha Me (pure male buffalo) Jatra, celebrated on the occasion of Mahanavami, is being celebrated today.
Kha Me, which is considered very important from religious, cultural and historical points of view, is considered as a symbol of Mahishasur Daitya (demon).
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On Mahanavami day, when Tripurasundari appears and completes her incarnation as Navadurga Bhavani, according to the popular religious folk belief, Mahishasur (buffalo) is slaughtered on this day and Jatra is being celebrated by sacrificing Kha Me on this day, said history and culture expert Prof Dr Purushottam Lochan Shrestha.
In Dashain, the buffalo is brought to Gathemung (Dattatreya square) near the temple of goddess Durga. On the evening of the ninth day of Dasain, it is taken to the open street and chased from the Durga temple towards Bramhayani temple which lies about a kilometer away on the bank of Hanumante river. Before the chasing starts, it is made to drink alcohol.
After chasing, the buffalo is cleaned in the holy water of Hanumante river. Pilgrims also bath in the same river. A tantric ritual is performed by sprinkling holy water, rice and flowers on the body of buffalo and some tantric mantra is whispered in its ear.
The head is worshiped as the demon king Mahisasur while the body is distributed as prasad. It is believed that the holy prasad keeps the evils away from the family. The prasad is stored and burnt in the fire as incense in the Laxmi Puja.
For this Jatra, a pure male buffalo which does not have any physical wounds or defects is chosen. It must have seven chakras and its hair in the front and the middle parts should lean towards the front and the hair in back should lean towards the back.
