Bala Chaturdashi
Bala Chaturdashi also known as Satbij Chharne Aaushi. In this festival people light diyo(traditional oil lamp) in the evening and ensures that the diyo keeps burning through out the night. People sing bhajans and dance throughout the night praying lord Shiva. The next day people take bath in Bagmati river. Bagmati river is considered to be the most holy river of Nepal. After the bath people visit and worship the temples and idols around Pashupatinath. Seeds are dropped in Slesmantak forest in remembrance of dead relatives. It is believed that by this ritual, a better place can be secured in heaven for the dead relatives.
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Bala Nanda, a trader, who came to cremation ground of Arya Ghat to attend cremation ceremony of one of his relatives. As the body was burning on the pyre, mourners along with Bala Nanda sat nearby eating the ceremonial food being served. While he was eating, a small portion of meat from the dead body fell from the fire onto his plate. He unknowingly ate the meat and soon after, he turned into a horrible man eating demon Balasur. After that, Bala Nanda took the body from the pyre and devoured it. People were terrified and fled from there. Because of his demon-like behavior, Bala nanda was known as Balasur, a man eating demon. Then Balasur began to live in Arya Ghat.
People were afraid to go to Arya Ghat to cremate the dead. People asked the king to get rid of Balasur from arya ghat. King knew Brisha Singh was a good friend of Bala Nanda, king then asked him to kill Balasur. Brisha Singh deceived Balasur and killed him. After killing Balasur, Brisha started to feel guilty about killing his good friend. He meditated in the Sleshmantak forest and prayed Lord Shiva for the salvation of his demon friend. Lord Shiva was pleased by Brisha’s sincere affection towards his friend. Lord Shiva asked him to drop seven varieties of grain on the holy grounds of the forest to cleanse the sin of Balasur and to erase his own guilt of killing a friend. It is believed that from that day, the tradition of dropping seven grains started.
People were afraid to go to Arya Ghat to cremate the dead. People asked the king to get rid of Balasur from arya ghat. King knew Brisha Singh was a good friend of Bala Nanda, king then asked him to kill Balasur. Brisha Singh deceived Balasur and killed him. After killing Balasur, Brisha started to feel guilty about killing his good friend. He meditated in the Sleshmantak forest and prayed Lord Shiva for the salvation of his demon friend. Lord Shiva was pleased by Brisha’s sincere affection towards his friend. Lord Shiva asked him to drop seven varieties of grain on the holy grounds of the forest to cleanse the sin of Balasur and to erase his own guilt of killing a friend. It is believed that from that day, the tradition of dropping seven grains started.
