In Pictures: Patan celebrates unique Itilhana Samyak Mahadan festival in honor of Dipankara Buddha

Published On: March 14, 2024 02:36 PM NPT By: Dipesh Darsandhari

KATHMANDU, March 14: The Itilhana Samyak Mahadan, a celebration dedicated to Dipankara Buddha, takes place once every four years, in Patan, Lalitpur. This year's festival, held in Nagabahal area, saw an impressive gathering of devotees and monks.

Unlike its more frequent observances, with Bhaktapur celebrating annually and Kathmandu every 12 years, Patan's iteration of the festival is a grand event that focuses on unity and giving. Known locally as Dipankara Parva, the festival showcases an outstanding tradition of almsgiving, where devotees offer monetary donations, fruits, traditional sweets, and a variety of other gifts to the Buddhas.

A remarkable feature of this festival is the invitation extended to approximately 126 Dipankara Buddhas from Patan and its surroundings to participate in this significant event. The Golden Temple's Dipankara Buddha is said to lead this grand assembly.

The Samyak festival also honors a host of other deities, including Arya Tara, Bodhisattvas, Avalokitesvara, and Basundhara, highlighting the rich tapestry of Newari tradition. Shakya and Bajracharya monks play a pivotal role in the ceremonies, further enriching this cultural and spiritual celebration.