Seeking love compability in Budhabaare Mela

BHAKTAPUR, Aug 26: Every year the Newar community celebrates Budhabaare Mela as a part of the Gunla Parva. The festival – celebrated in the 9th month of the Newari calendar – began on August 12 this year. Budhabaare Mela, which is also known as ‘Pemha Dyo Mhasika Wonegu’ in Nepal Bhasa, translates to familiarizing with four gods. 

The devotees visit Namobuddha in Kavrepalanchok, Bajrayogini in Sankhu, Swayambhu in Kathmandu and Bungmati in Lalitpur on four consecutive Wednesdays, respectively. Religious belief suggests that the participants of the pilgrimage will find their true love and eventually get married by Dashain, the same year.

According to 61-year-old Sunmaya Twayana, a devotee from Bhaktapur, this festival was the only way to interact with people in ancient times. She further claimed that she fell in love while on the pilgrimage, eventually got married to the same man. “Unlike youngsters today, we were hardly provided with an open and free environment. So, visiting the festival was the only way to meet different people,” she added.