गथांमुगः चःह्रे 

Gathamung Chare/ Ghantakarna Chaturdasi / Gathemangal Festival
The festival of Gathemangal is celebrated at the end of the Nepali month of Shrawan. According to a local inhabitants of Kathmandu Valley, a savage creature by the name of Ghantakarna used to terrify the public by stealing their children and women from homes. The creature looked mystical with his body painted in red, blue, and black. He had a pair of bells on his ears with the help of which every moment, he made a jangling noise. Because of these bells, he was called Ghanta (Bell) Karna (Ears). Ghanta Karna demanded money and other gifts be made to him by the villagers, bullying them.

No men dared to break the ego of the bully demon. A large number of frogs came to the place where the demon creature stayed. Ghantakarna got irritated and tried to catch the frogs. The frogs by nature jumped ahead to croak. The frogs led Ghantakarna on to a swamp and then they jumped into the water. He too fell into the water with the frogs. The frogs then swarmed all around his head and the demon sank to his death. Thus, the frogs were able to free the residents of the Valley from the tortures of Ghantakarna.

This festival is believed to be celebrated to remember the end of Ghantakarna.The festival is celebrated by acting out the legendary drama in the streets. To begin with, children from every neighborhood collect money from passerby. The dummy of Ghantakarna is structured in bamboo poles, one man replicates Ghantakarna by smearing himself with paint and roaming the streets with a begging bowl asking for donations. People also offer the dummy food and meat. At the end of the day, the person imitating Ghantakarna is placed on the bamboo poles, now taken down, and is dragged to a nearby river. This colorful festival, though celebrated mostly only in the Newar community, is especially fun-filled for children.

On this day, people also wear metal rings called Gathemangal ko aunthi. This Ring is believed to have the power to safeguard people from all ills and evil spirits. In the ancient time, when little water and violent storm brought illness due to diseases like digestive diseases, most common during the summer, people thought evil spirits were to be blamed. They believed, it to be because of the absence of the Nine Durgas(Nava Durga), evil spirits were free to enter into the city to cause such troubles.

Before nightfall, the locals hammer three legged nails onto the door lintels to scare away the ghosts. There are various legends and myths attached to the Ghanta Karna devil that is revered as well as feared. Anybody hesitates to give the money the children being to shout calling him the grandson of the demon -“see the grandson of Gathemangal coming!” This day marks the beginning of the one-month long Lakhe Naach. People dance on streets dressing up, painting faces all in red, blue and black in Lakhe Naach.

Additionally, Girls hang their hand-made dolls on the demon to protect themselves from bad spirits. Girls put ‘Mehandi’ (Henna) on their palms.

The real taste of celebrating festival lies in the fun filled activities performed in celebrating them. Every human being is reminded of their origin, existence and made aware about better ways of living, coping with life struggles through festival.

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