During the Brata period Poush & Magh month (January - February) during winter, every morning there is holy bath of Madhavnarayan by Kaji & sanwas at the same time all the devotees take bath dipping In the holy river salinadi.Then the statue is put beside a small temple where Rajopadhya the priest worship every day. The statue Is put along with the male devotees In the pati near ananteshwar mahdev temple.The devotes visit Bajrayogini temple along with the statue of Madhavnarayan on the fourteenth day . The next day on the dark moon they go to Pashupatinath temple along with the statue where they worship with shivalinga and stay there that night. Similarly the next day they go to Pharping and worship together sheshnarayan then they return back to sankhu. Without getting rest they visit Panauti and worship the statues of gods then come back to Sankhu before Shree panchami. On the Lala saptami they march ashtamatrika and jyotirlingeshwor of Sankhu.While marching the males roll down some scatter the drops of water from the earthen pot. The male devotees are In white plain dress but the female devotees are in beautiful saris and red dresses. They visit to Changunarayan on ekadashi day and come back to Sankhu on bare feet. On the full moon of Magh the Swasthanibrata ends by running ashwamedh yagyan. On the shivaratri there is again gathering of all the Devotees at Brahmapur whore they can worship lord Madhavnarayan by touching directly. On the same day there is system of sarukwalan pooja at sadhusmasan Lapsephedi.There is Sarpahuti by Joshi Priest For the pooja a goat, a couple of snake, a couple of sparrow and a couple of pigeon have to be managed earlier. It is very interesting that a person of dgyala creed (one of the spices of Newar) has to put an earthen pot near the salinadi on a stone the previous evening where a couple of snake appear next day automatically similarly they collect the couple, of pigeon and sparrow also. Out of the couple of the snake , sparrow and pigeon one of each couple is to be burnt along with the sacrificed head of the goat but the other one is left there then th. statue of Madhavnarayan taken back at the home of Rajopadhyay Brahmapur. It is kept for 11 months which is not allowed to touch except only on. Rajopadhyay priest. . After performing the pooja all the priests' devotees and sanwa gather at ho home of Kaji for food then the devotoes go to Jyotirlingeshwar templeside where they pass that night by paying homage and chanting Bhajan.Th. devotees distribute roasted maize. soyaban and wheat as Prasad to everyone. In this way the swasthanibrata as well as Madhavnarayan mela is accomplished
In Sankhu. It is said that every devotee listens.
bratakatha or stories is a must. The routine shouldn't break. It should go on uninterrupted for one month from the date of commencement. At the completion of chanting hymns, flowers and fruits are to be distributed among all those listening to brata katha. Some women fast for whole month and take only one meal a day and read the story of Swosthani mata in midaftemoon. People who do not fast also narrate the story either early in the morning or in the evening before the meal. Before reciting the story they worship the Swosthani Barta Story Book with Abir, Kesari, and Jau Til and flowers, Incense (Dhup Batti), and Diyo. They cook special offering to goddess Swasthani. Especially sesame sweets Is seen In every household. The fasting women offer Dhup BattiTilkoladdu, and flowers In 108 counts each. Swasthani Brata Katha is story that was told by Lord Kumar (Kartikay) to Agasthi Muni (saint). Kumar is the elder son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. When Agasthi Muni wanted to know how this universe was formed, Kumar starts the story telling him about the formation of universe. Each Chapter commences with Kumarll aagya garnu huncha hey agisti muni meaning "Lord Kumar states hey Saint Agasthi".
The brats Is very tough to perform which can be witnessed directly as I also dd for researching. It is quite unique lIve culture of Nepal and rare rites of tin, world. There is mentioned In an authentic book of swasthanipatro about the method of performIng the brata of Madhavnarayan but it is not in any book. Until my research work (January2012 AD) The Swasthanibrata is started by the devotees by cutting the nails purifing ownselves from Poush Shuklapurnima (full moon) and they perform Ashwamedh yagyan on the Shuklapurnima of Magh at the end. The devotos take plaIn food only once in a day. They sleep on the ground .They maintain celibacy and they worship Jagadishswar form of god (Swasthanibratakatha) . The devotees offer sesame rice, thread, sacred thread, oil lamp, milk, sugarcandy(sakkhar), insense. cloth, coins, nut meg. 108 pieces of betel nut, betel leaf vermillion, red colour, bangle hand bans, comb, ornaments and different Ilowors to the goddess. Every day at 4 am the sahwas blow the conches to wake up the devotees around Sankhu.
Sankhu has a month Swasthanibrata mela, The Swasthanibrata is a tribute to the Goddess through tasting, meditation and ritual bathing, by men and women. It begins on the full moon of the Nepali month of Poush and ends on the full moon of the Nepali month of Magh. Men and Women pay homage to the lord Madhabnarayan at Shalinadi side. The mela (fare) lasts for 31 days at the temple, chanting hymns meditating by saints pilgrims and devot it is believed that the devotees who perform this brata will have their wish fulfilled by the grace of goddess Swasthani.
Nepali, the native tongue of the Paharis and the national language of Nepal, is closely related to, but by no means Identical with, Hindi. Both are rooted in Sanskrit. But Newars speak their own language. Newars largely were concentrated In the Kathmandu Valley. However, because of their past migration as traders and merchants, they also were found In virtually all the market centers, especially in the hills, and as far away as Lhasa in Tibet. Most Investigations of ethnic groups have been mad. in connection with studies of race, relations and stratified societies by American scholars, for example Mae Cron (1937)
Nepal is a garland of multi-ethnic groups with Its multi cultural phenomenon It is multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-cultural Himalayan country. It was sovereign and independent from its origin. The great patriots like Amar singh Thapa, Bala Bhadra Kunwar and so many ancestors had acquired this country. Nepal has religious tolerance and unity in diversity. There are many communities with their cultural background. The Himalayan dwellers Including Bhote Sherpa community especially follow the Lhosar, the Newars particularly in the valleies follow Jatras, The Tharus in Tarai mainly celebrate Chhath and holi. The hilly settlers Brahmans as well as Kshetrees follow Dashain Deepawali.
Mahashivaratri, holi, Ramnawami, Krishna janmashtami. Haritalika and so on. All the people whoever wherever they stay celebrate Dashain, Deepawali, Father's day, Mother's day teacher's day commonly. There are different traditional beliefs and practices of all the people in this world. But there are rare live culture everywhere.
When I came to be a teacher I felt pride as Nepali. It is very romantic place with culture and nature so, Let's visit sankhu when ther is the recreational festival to feel new ness in mind, which is a must to human. Mother and Motherland are greater.
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Thanks for your concerns