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Nepal JyotishTraditional Science
Festivals

Bala Chaturdashi (Balachahre)

The story of Bala Chaturdashi, how the guthiyar Balananda ate a gidhi and became the man-eating demon Balasur.

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Bala Chaturdashi (Balachahre)

A guthiyar of Kathmandu named Balananda, while cremating a corpse at Aryaghat, unknowingly ate a gidhi that had burst out of the funeral pyre, and became the man-eating demon 'Balasur'. Hiding in Shleshmanatak Forest, he began snatching corpses and eating people.

To kill Balasur, his close childhood friend, the merchant Vrishasimha, was assigned the task. Vrishasimha went into the forest, fed Balasur chhyang and delicious food until he was drunk, and cut off his head.

To be freed from the great sin of killing his own dear friend, Vrishasimha prayed to Lord Shiva. Shiva commanded: "On the day of Mangsir Krishna Chaturdashi, in the Mrigasthali area of Shleshmanatak Forest, scatter 'Shatabeej' (Sadbeej) made by mixing seven kinds of grain; the sin of your friend's murder, and that of your ancestors for seven generations, shall be absolved."

From that day on, the festival of 'Bala Chaturdashi' began to be observed in the Pashupati area — burning lamps through the night and scattering Shatabeej at dawn.

Note: These are traditional Nepali folk tales (kimbadanti), passed down orally through generations. They may or may not reflect actual historical events, but they are told and believed as part of Nepal's cultural heritage.

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Ghantakarna (Gathamuga)The story of how the atheistic aghori Ghantakarna became a demon and was killed, and the Gathamuga festival came to be celebrated.Nepal SambatThe story of how the astrologer Siddhivanta found an auspicious moment and Nepal Sambat was begun.Dhanya Purnima (Yomari Punhi)The story of Yomari Punhi, how grain and wealth increased after the wife of the rich Suchandra fed Kubera.ShivaratriThe story of Shivaratri, how a hunter offered bel leaves through the night, won Shiva's grace, and attained liberation.Bisket JatraThe story of Bisket Jatra, in which the people of Bhaktapur, freed from the practice of keeping night watch, raise the lingo.Nag PanchamiThe story of how Nag Panchami came to be celebrated to appease the Naga king after the blade of a plough killed the serpent's young.