Shikali Jatra
शिकाली जात्रा
Newar
Dates
| 2083 BS | Date to be announced | Date to be announced |
| 2084 BS | Date to be announced | Date to be announced |
Sikali Jatra is a religious festival of Newar people in Khokana of the Kathmandu Valley. The jatra is performed in Dashain by the people who do not celebrate the Dashain festival.
The Jatra is five-day festival dedicated to Sikali (also called Ajima), one of the deities in Hundism. Sikali is one of the sisters of goddess in Dakshinkali. Sikali'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 are selected to worship Sikali. The locals wears masks to represent 14 Hindu deities. 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 Sikali temple. The procession is led by a Newar priest wearing white robe.
नेपालीमा
शिकाली जात्रा काठमाडौं उपत्यकाको खोकनामा नेवार समुदायको धार्मिक पर्व हो। दशैं नमनाउने मानिसहरूले दशैंमा यो जात्रा मनाउछन्। जात्रा पाँच दिन लामो हुन्छ। यो जात्रा शिकाली देवी ( अजिमा) लाई समर्पित रहेको हुन्छ। देवी शिकाली दक्षिणकालीकी देवीकी बहिनीहरूमध्ये एक हुन्। सिक्लीको मन्दिर खोकनामा अवस्थित छ। खोकनामा तागु, सलागु र जागु गरी तीनवटा प्रमुख समुदाय छन् । जात्राको दिन तागु र सलागुका चार कुमारी केटालाई शिकालीको पूजा गर्न छनोट गरिन्छ । स्थानीयहरूले १४ हिन्दू देवता र देवीहरूको प्रतिनिधित्व गर्न मुखोटा लगाउँछन्। तान्त्रिक अनुष्ठान पछी मुखौटे नाच गरिन्छ। नर्तकहरूले रङ्गीन पहिरन लगाउँछन्। रुद्रायणी देवीको काठको रथ सडकमा बोकेर अन्ततः शिकाली मन्दिरमा राखिन्छ । सेतो लुगा लगाएका नेवार पुजारीले जात्राको नेतृत्व गर्छन्।