What is Makar Mela?
The Makar Mela is one of the most anticipated festivals in Panauti, Nepal. The month-long festival, celebrated once every 12 years, sees thousands of devotees flock from all over Nepal and India.
About Makar Mela
In the Makar Mela lore, believers hold the mythology that Lord Indra, the King of Heaven, suffered from an incurable disease. After 12 years of Meditation at the Triveni Ghat in Panauti to please Lord Shiva, Gokarnath himself came to the aid and mixed a nectar of the cure in Rudrawati. Indra's bath in the river with the flowing nectar cured the disease.
How is it Celebrated?
The Festival is exclusively celebrated in Panauti for a month at Triveni Ghat, on the confluence of Punyamati, Roshi and Rudrawati (the invisible river). Makar Mela starts when the sun enters Makar Rashi on the day of Makar Sankranti. This is the first day in the month of Magh, mid-January - mid-February, in the Bikram Sambat calendar. It is believed that dipping in the river cures skin diseases and purifies one's sins. After bathing, the devotees hike up to the Gorakhnath hill to pay homage to Basuki Naag and Lord Shiva. The naag is said to be Panauti's protractor.
Best way to Celebrate Makar Mela
Panauti is a small town that retains much of its charm and reflects a much more relaxed pace of life. With many heritage sites and lush green hills surrounding it, it has a lot to offer travellers. One of the best ways to celebrate the festival and discover Panauti is to stay with locals. The Panauti community homestay offers a homely setting for travellers without relinquishing all modern comforts.
Living with the locals not only allows you to observe the festival but also gives you hands-on experiences with different activities. The warm hospitality and mesmerizing interactions are sure to give you a memorable experience.
How to get to Panauti
Panauti is about 34 kilometers from Kathmandu. You have to take the Araniko Highway from Kathmandu to Banepa. On reaching Banepa, the road to Panauti diverts right from the Tribhuvan Chowk. The Panauti road is about 7.5 km from Banepa and has been recently blacktopped.
Alternatively, you can take a local bus from Kathmandu to Panauti, which takes about 2 hours, depending on the traffic.
