Thaiba: Rituals for Phalgun Purnima

Thaiba offers a specific cultural focus for a trip: the religious customs surrounding Vishnu Devi and Phulchowki Mai. The Vishnu Devi Pith temple is in the northern part of the town. A statue of Phulchowki Mai installed in Thaiba is housed in a Khat. The rituals take place on Phalgun Purnima and the following morning. If you plan your stay around these occasions, timing is just as important as choosing your destination.

Vishnu Devi and Phalgun Purnima

Holi is celebrated on the grounds of Vishnu Devi on Phalgun Purnima, at around 10 or 11 a.m. Guthiyar, the general public, and Nauthari Bhaladami take part. The approximate time and the groups named provide a specific time reference for the festival day. If you want to plan your trip around this celebration, check the date for the relevant year in advance.

After the Guthi feast with Gajabaza, the idols of the thirteen goddesses of Vishnu Devi are kept in a Khat on the grounds of the Vishnu Devi Temple. Thus, both the celebration and the storage of the idols are part of the rituals on Phalgun Purnima. The number of goddesses, the Khat, and the location on the temple grounds make this part of the proceedings distinct from the activities on the following morning.

The following morning and other rituals

The following morning, at around 8 to 10 a.m., the covering veil is removed to prepare the deity. The Cholecho, kept in the Khadkulo, is then opened for prayers by the general public. This opening is part of the Jatra ritual. For planning purposes, it is therefore useful to view the festival day and the following morning as two separate stages: Holi and the storage of the thirteen idols are associated with Phalgun Purnima, while the removal of the veil and the opening for prayers take place the next morning.

A pilgrimage to Vishnu Devi takes place twice a year under the leadership of Antalachapa (guthi). If you are planning your trip around this pilgrimage, confirm the date before arranging your accommodation. This lets you align your travel dates with the occasion, rather than equating the pilgrimage with the rituals tied to Phalgun Purnima.

The Thaiba Cholecho Jatra also has a historical tradition. According to this tradition, the Jatra has been held continuously since the year 744 of the Nepal Sambat. This traditional account provides a historical perspective on the tradition, while retaining the nature of a reported claim.

Travel dates and finding a hotel in Thaiba

Phalgun Purnima, the following morning, and a pilgrimage held twice a year offer different points of reference for timing. First decide which occasion you want to attend and check its date before looking for a hotel for your travel dates. This way, your search for a hotel in Thaiba is tied to the specific reason for your trip, without combining the different rituals into a single date.

Explore more destinations: Budhanilkantha, Bhaktapur, Bungamati, Lalitpur, Panauti, Madhyapur Thimi, Sankhu, Kathmandu

For the broader travel overview: Bagmati.