Potters in Bhaktapur

Potters are one of the major occupants in Bhaktapur. The potters square is popular for the clay made utensils, monuments, gifts items and many attractive handicrafts. However there are many potters who makes clay goods and utensils around the town. These occupants make clay goods during their free time when there are no much works in their farm. Now a days, potters are modifying their profession and being tourism focused. Since bhaktapur is one of the ancient and historic city and is enlisted in UNESCO World Heritage site, numerous of tourists visits this city every year. And so this city carry a higher economic scope in the pottery profession.
The popularity of clay goods and utensils is still there in the local residents. Besides the household, people use these for gardening, decorating items, constructions and many more.

Chyasing Mandap (Bkt, Durbar Sq.)

Chyasing Mandap, a monument which is a challenge for the modern architecture. Located at the bhaktapur Durbar Square, Chyasing Mandap attracts every visiters' eyes. Rich in the wood crafts and different cultural designs craved in it, Chyasing mandap is three stored pagoda styled rest house in the durbar area.
The lower floor is open and public can stay there whereas the second and third floor is in use just for the guthi (local newari cultural group). There is lobby in the second floor where one can sit by the window in the locally weaved straw mats and enjoy the view of durbar area and people traveling there. In my childhood, it was open even for the public. I enjoyed the stay there as a child and had fun. All these memories are everlasting. Whenever you travel to Bhaktapur, reside here in the ground floor of chyasing mandap, you will love it.

Travel in the Evening

The evening life in Bhaktapur is very fun. Mostly, youngsters and tourists loves spending the evening outdoors. There are many food stalls available. Fast foods like steam momo, fried momo. chopsticks, stick-sauses. pakaudas, chatpate, panipuri, bara, chattamahri, samosa, and many more. Roaming around the historic city eating all these varieties of items on the nature-friendly leaves plate is really fun. During the evening, traveling the "Sukuldhoka Bazar" is always memorable. The Bazar ( shopping center) is the long row of shops on varieties of items on the either sides of the brick-paved road. There are many handicrafts shops, gifts shops, gallery, and many more.
Kamal-pokhari and Siddha-pokhari are two famous ponds for evening get-together. Popular for the peaceful environment, fishes, wide views of the pond is really lovely. Being on these ponds side, really sweeps away the stress of day long work load. Travel Bhaktapur to experience the evening beauty here.

Gai Jatra (The Festival of Holy Cows)

The "Gai Jatra" festival is celebrated by the Newar community according to the newari calender. During this festival, cows decorated in various forms are taken for roaming around the town from every house where the people had died the previous year. In Bhaktapur, living are cows are not used, instead children are decorated in various god and goddess and represented as cow. Also, a structure of bamboo is made to represent the cow. These various representations of cows are taken round the town. The "Gai Jatra" festival lasts for nine days. During the first the tribute is paid to the passed away members of the family and the following days is celebrated by performing different cultural dances, dramas, musics, and several satirical plays as well. The "stick dances" is the major attraction during this festival. People in Bhaktapur believe that on the first day of this festival they should eat nine different variety of food, wear nine variety of clothes and travel around the town for nine times.
There is historical significance as well in celebrating this festival. During the Malla regime, the Prince died at very young. The queen was very dishearten due to the untimely demise of her son. To console her and to bring her out from this pain, the king ordered to conduct this festival praying for the peace and liberation of the departed soul. Everyone since then celebrated this festival with great enthusiasm and respect to their beloved and departed family members.

Gai Jatra (The Cow Festival)

The "Gai Jatra" festival is celebrated by the Newar community according to the newari calender. During this festival, cows decorated in various forms are taken for roaming around the town from every house where the people had died the previous year. In Bhaktapur, living are cows are not used, instead children are decorated in various god and goddess and represented as cow. Also, a structure of bamboo is made to represent the cow. These various representations of cows are taken round the town. The "Gai Jatra" festival lasts for nine days. During the first the tribute is paid to the passed away members of the family and the following days is celebrated by performing different cultural dances, dramas, musics, and several satirical plays as well. The "stick dances" is the major attraction during this festival. People in Bhaktapur believe that on the first day of this festival they should eat nine different variety of food, wear nine variety of clothes and travel around the town for nine times.
There is historical significance as well in celebrating this festival. During the Malla regime, the Prince died at very young. The queen was very dishearten due to the untimely demise of her son. To console her and to bring her out from this pain, the king ordered to conduct this festival praying for the peace and liberation of the departed soul. Everyone since then celebrated this festival with great enthusiasm and respect to their beloved and departed family members.