The ancient city Panauti hosting the Makar Mela and this Mela is ongoing in Panauti, Kavreplalanchok. This is one of the delightful Hindu festivals celebrated every 12 years, so millions of devotees visit from all over Nepal and even from India to witness this festival. In Hindu culture, this is the festival you most explore once in a lifetime to take away all sins you did in your lifetime.
Panauti is a traditional city located 32KM southwest of Kathmandu. There is a place where three different rivers meet each other and that place is the Triveni Ghat. Those holy rivers are Punyamatti, Rudrawati, and Lilawati or Roshi Khola. The meeting point of these three rivers is the place where Makar Mala is celebrating.
During this festival, pilgrims take a dip into the holy river at Triveni Ghat; believing that this will wash their all the sins and clear the way to heaven. While they bathe in the holy water they pray for Basuki Nagh; Basuki Nagh is considered as the snake of Shiva’s neck. After bath devotees will worship at the Indreshwar Mahadev Temple because this temple represents an incarnation of Shiva.
On the occasion of Makar Mela, Devotees offer a butter lamp, incense, rice, vermillion powder, and flowers. These five things are representative, of the five human life assistance elements – they are water, earth, air, light(heat), and knowledge.
Legends regarding celebrating Makar Mela.
The historical city Panauti is famous as the city of Nagas. It is said that once the serpents from Taudaha visit Makar Mela and stay there for a whole month; since then people started to worship Nagas in Panauti. Even nowadays we can encounter snakes in the surrounding Indreshwar Mahadev Temple.
The second legend according to the festival is once the king of heaven Indra suffered from a deadly disease. And lord Indra looked for the treatment for that disease and he meditated for 12 years at the Triveni Ghat to please Lord Shiva. Shiva appeared and said Indra to dip in the river because in the river Shive poured nectar.
Lord Indra dipped in the river and cured his deadly disease. Since then everyone believes that every 12 years such nectar flows in this river; taking a dip in that river will cure all the diseases you have.
How to get in Panauti for Makar Mela
There are busses frequently going to Panauti from Ratnapark Kathmandu in the direction of Banepa and Dhulikhel. From Banepa you will turn left to Panauti. Around half an hour from Banepa, you will reach Panauti Bus Park and walk in the direction of the Tribeni Ghat.
If you are traveling by private vehicle then easy to follow the highway to Banepa via Bhaktapur. And from Banepa take the left side to Panauti, from Banepa it will take around half hour to reach Panauti for Makar Mela.
Other side trails to walk from and too Panauti
Panauti is an ancient town famously known as the town on a big stone. It is believed that this place is one of the safest places in Nepal for an earthquake. To reach this place and from here to go there are different places; which are very popular for national and international tourists. The first one is Namobuddha and the second one is Balthali.
Hike from Namobuddha to Panauti or vice versa. This hike is very popular among hikers in Nepal. Namobuddha is one of the most well-known Buddhist pilgrimage sides in Nepal. Every year thousands of people travel here and then they hike to Dhulikhel and Panauti. So that observing the Makar Mela and doing the hike to Namobuddha will be a pleasant trip in your life.
From Panauti, you can hike to Balthali village. Balthali village is a nice area because of the dramatic landscapes and even the amazing mountain vistas can see from here. There are some world-class resorts, and that will offer the best accommodation while you travel there. If you combine Makar Mela and hike to Balthali at the same time will be the perfect trip.
Conclusion.
Makar Mele is a festival that celebrates every 12 years in the ancient city of Panauti. This will be celebrated for the whole Nepali month of Magh at the Triveni Ghat. Millions of devotees travel there to wash out their sins and negative energy from their bodies. Even you can combine Nagarkot, Dhulikhel, and Balthali hikes with Maker Mela to enjoy the natural and cultural beauty.
