History
Sikali Jatra is one of the least-known major festivals in the Kathmandu Valley, observed exclusively in the village of Khokana in Lalitpur district. It is celebrated by the indigenous Newar community of Khokana as their own version of the Dashain period — a form of cultural resistance to the mainstream hill Hindu festival that displaced some indigenous Newar traditions after the Shah conquest of the valley in 1768.
The festival centres on the goddess Rudrayani, the principal deity of Khokana. Her sacred image is brought out and carried through the village in procession, accompanied by elaborate masked dances and ritual music performed by designated guthi (community guild) members.
Significance
The Sikali Jatra is a rare window into the pre-Hinduised religious traditions of the Newar people. Many of the rituals, costumes, and deity forms on display during Sikali have parallels with tantric Buddhist and proto-Hindu practices that predate the standardised Hindu festival calendar. Access to some parts of the festival is restricted to village members, making it an important reminder that living culture has its own boundaries.
What to Expect
Sikali Jatra is held in the last week of September or early October. Khokana is reachable from Patan (Lalitpur) by local bus or taxi. The village centre around the Rudrayani Temple is the focus of activity. Photography restrictions apply to some rituals — always ask before pointing a camera at religious ceremonies or performers. The surrounding area of Khokana is also notable for its traditional mustard oil mills, which still operate by ancient methods.