GA: PYAKHAN: THE DANCE OF THE ASTA MATRIKA’S

“Gaan” translates from Nepal Bhasa as “Group” and “Pyakhan” translates to “dance”. The dance begins from the night of Ghatsthapana and ends during the night of Ekadashi.

350 years ago King Sri Nivas Malla as he sat down by the window of his palace at Patan Dubar Square is believed to have noticed something. On a beautiful night he began hearing the tranquil melody of pauju ( Anklets) slowly approaching, and from a distance he saw a group of individuals dancing towards the palace.
As they approached close, the group displayed a beautiful dance of the Asta Matrika’s ( Eight Mother Goddesses) on their way to the court of Mul Chowk. King Sri Nivas Malla, ran to the court to take blessings and witness their divinity but as he reached the palace square the Matrika’s had already ascended.
The dance features thirteen deities, eight mother goddesses ( Brahmani, Mahesvari, Bal Kumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrayani, Mahakali and Mahalaxmi), and five newar patron deities (Bhairav, Simhini, Vyagrihi, Lord Ganesh and Lord Kumar).
It is believed that the dance of Asta Matrikas is performed to remove various obstacles—the eight great fears (Water, Lions, Fire, Snakes, Elephants, Thieves, False Imprisonment and Ghosts). The worship of the deities is thought to bring prosperity and fortune to the king and his people.

свернуть