Tundikhel

In ancient times there lived in the city of Kantipur a terrifying and gigantic demon named Gurumapa. He would secretly steal children from the neighbourhoods and kill them.

When their children began to go missing, the city dwellers were utterly terrified. They sought the help of Keshchandra, who was possessed of tantric powers. By the strength of his tantric knowledge, Keshchandra brought Gurumapa under control.

Gurumapa repented and made a vow: "From now on I shall not eat children, nor shall I enter the city. I am ready to protect the city, but let provisions be made for my daily food."

Keshchandra arranged for Gurumapa to live on a vast and open ground outside the city. It was laid down as a rule that once a year, on the day of the Ghodejatra, he would be offered lumpy boiled rice (tu) and the meat of a buffalo as a sacrifice.

That vast open ground where this lumpy rice was offered came later to be called 'Tundikhel'. On the day of the Ghodejatra, when horses are raced at full speed, the earth trembles and Gurumapa stays quiet beneath the ground — this popular belief still holds.