The festival of the vest! On this occasion, a jewel-studded vest is shown to all at Jawalakhel ground in Patan from the chariot of God Matsyendranath. This occasion generally falls in the month of May.
The legend behind this show is rather interesting.
A king of serpents, Karcotak Nag lived in Taudaha, a lake few miles away southwest from Kathmandu. Karcotak Nag’s wife was suffering from an eye-sore that was not being cured by means available to him. Finally, the serpent chief took human form and met a noted eye doctor from Bhakhtapur. Following Karcotak Nag’s persistent requests, the doctor accompanied him to his kingdom of snakes. Karcotak Nag’s wife was cured by the doctor in four days. So pleased was Karcotak Nag that he gave the physician his own vest studded with precious jewels as a reward.
One day, a goblin saw him with the vest and was tempted to acquire it by any means. So he offered to procure it from that old physician. On refusal to part with the vest, the goblin somehow managed to steal it. From then on, the farmer physician was desperately looking out for the goblin. It is believed that one day when the car of Matsyendranath reached Jawalakhel, Gods and human beings were there to mark obeisance to Matsyendra Nath and that some people found the stolen vest held by some invisible hands in the gathering. So a Tantric (expert in Tantrism) of Lalitpur, suspecting the presence of goblins, laid his magic tantric Cordon to prevent the escape of the goblins. They were thus caught and made visible which enabled the physician to see his stolen vest with the goblin. They indulged in fighting which was settled only after the advent of Karkotak Nag himself who gave a decisive blow to the goblin making him confess to his crime.
However, the goblin and the physician, both thinking themselves not worthy of possessing such a precious gift decided, in consultation with the serpent chief, to present the vest to Matsyendranath. Since then it is shown to the public as an invaluable gift from the region of the serpents. Huge crowds of people from various parts flock every year to Jawalakhel to witness the Bhoto and make obeisance to Matsyendra Nath.
The legend behind this show is rather interesting.
A king of serpents, Karcotak Nag lived in Taudaha, a lake few miles away southwest from Kathmandu. Karcotak Nag’s wife was suffering from an eye-sore that was not being cured by means available to him. Finally, the serpent chief took human form and met a noted eye doctor from Bhakhtapur. Following Karcotak Nag’s persistent requests, the doctor accompanied him to his kingdom of snakes. Karcotak Nag’s wife was cured by the doctor in four days. So pleased was Karcotak Nag that he gave the physician his own vest studded with precious jewels as a reward.
One day, a goblin saw him with the vest and was tempted to acquire it by any means. So he offered to procure it from that old physician. On refusal to part with the vest, the goblin somehow managed to steal it. From then on, the farmer physician was desperately looking out for the goblin. It is believed that one day when the car of Matsyendranath reached Jawalakhel, Gods and human beings were there to mark obeisance to Matsyendra Nath and that some people found the stolen vest held by some invisible hands in the gathering. So a Tantric (expert in Tantrism) of Lalitpur, suspecting the presence of goblins, laid his magic tantric Cordon to prevent the escape of the goblins. They were thus caught and made visible which enabled the physician to see his stolen vest with the goblin. They indulged in fighting which was settled only after the advent of Karkotak Nag himself who gave a decisive blow to the goblin making him confess to his crime.
However, the goblin and the physician, both thinking themselves not worthy of possessing such a precious gift decided, in consultation with the serpent chief, to present the vest to Matsyendranath. Since then it is shown to the public as an invaluable gift from the region of the serpents. Huge crowds of people from various parts flock every year to Jawalakhel to witness the Bhoto and make obeisance to Matsyendra Nath.
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