Bisket Jatra

Biskā Jātrā (Newar: 𑐧𑐶𑐳𑑂𑐎𑐵𑑅 𑐖𑐵𑐟𑑂𑐬𑐵‎, biskāḥ jātrā), also known as Biska Jatra (Nepali: बिस्का जात्रा) refers to an annual festival celebrated in April at Bhaktapur, Thimi and their environs. In many of the places where it is celebrated including Bhaktapur and Thimi, Biska acts as the main celebration of the year. Biska unlike other Nepalese festivals is based on the Hindu solar calendar instead of the Nepalese lunar calendar.

The name Biska encompasses festivals celebrated around the same time in Bhaktapur, Thimi, Bode, Nagadesh, Dhapasi, Tokha, Dhulikhel, Katunje, Gundu and Sanga all of which were once part of the Kingdom of Bhaktapur. Biska originated as festival celebrating Vaisakhi, the Solar New Year, in Bhaktapur by exhibiting a long banner tied in a long wooden pole. During the Malla dynasty, the festival spread to other parts of the kingdom and many new traditions were added, including the ratha festival of Bhairava and his consort Bhadrakali in Bhaktapur, the sindoor throwing festival in Thimi, both of which constitute the most iconic part of the festival today. Each city has its own unique way of celebrating the festival.