Bisket Jatra affected by COVID-19

Bisket Jatra, a nine-day and eight-night festival observed in Bhaktapur and other parts of the Kathmandu Valley has been affected by coronavirus crisis.

Only worshipping took place by priests of Bishwonath Bhairab or Aakash Bhairab temples on the first day of the festival, said Aananda Prasad Karmacharya, chief of Guthi Sansthan, Bhaktapur. In normal day, the festival would be celebrated with much fanfare.

A series of meeting of concerned authorities chaired by mayor of Bhaktapur municipality Sunil Prajapati decided to limit the festival to only worshipping by the priests, he said.

The festival being affected by pandemic would not cause any ill omen, said historian and culture expert Prof Dr Purushottam Lochan Shrestha.