Gathemangal is a festival held every year in the month of June / July on Shrawan Krishna Chaturdashi. Gathemangal or Ghantakarna Chaturdasi is a term co-relatively used for worshiping and offering sacrifices to demons as a festive. In the Newar group, Gathemangal is celebrated and observed in various areas of the Kathmandu Valley.
There is a myth that there was a legendary demon called “Ghantakarna,” spreading negativity and cruelty among the individuals. Newars prepared dummies demons to get rid of this, and they are erected at the crossroads. The Ghantakarna is made up of straws, bamboo leaves for sections of the body, while the face is made of nanglo (a bamboo round plate used in Nepali rice sifting kitchens) with art placed on it and bells that are used to mean ears. It is taken around the city and dragged to the nearby bank of the river at the end of the day for disposal and burning at the city’s chowks.
This festival is connected with numerous legends. No one understands this culture’s precise evolution, but many have said it has been celebrated since the Lichhavi period. Ghantakarna, with a couple of bells on his ears, used to frighten individuals by murdering them, according to convictions. That was why Ghanta (Bell) and Karna (Ears) were called by individuals. Through deceiving, people tried to kill them but couldn’t succeed. Later, while on his manner to hunting, a smart frog was effective enough to kill him in a swamp. It was thought that this specific day would mark the Ghantakarna Festival celebration.
People also wear iron rings on their fingers on this day with a faith that they will be protected from evil spirits and demons. Originally the iron rings were made by the Nakarmis (Newars who traditionally worked to make iron equipment). The ring is confident that it protects people against unpleasant and evil spirits. People get home early on this day and hammered the three-legged nails at the doors at night to get away from the ghosts.
People clean their homes at home and prepare samaybaji (a mixture of beaten rice, ginger, black soybeans, chhoila, potato, garlic). To purify their house, they stick a tiny patch of cow’s dung with various crops in the gates. In every nook and corner of the house, they also burn wheat hay to take away misfortunes.
