Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur Nepal

Every April, the ancient city of Bhaktapur transforms into something extraordinary. Chariots the size of small houses are hauled through narrow stone-paved lanes by thousands of devotees, tall wooden poles are raised and lowered in rituals that have unfolded for centuries, and in a nearby village a single man walks for hours with a metal spike through his tongue carrying a flaming bamboo rack, all in devotion, all in celebration. This is Bisket Jatra, Nepal's most viscerally spectacular festival, and timing your Nepal trip to coincide with it is one of the best decisions you can make.

What is Bisket Jatra?

Bisket Jatra is a nine-day festival celebrated primarily in Bhaktapur, the medieval Newar city 13 km east of Kathmandu, along with satellite celebrations in Dhapasi, Thimi, and Tokha. The name is sometimes spelled Biska Jatra, both derive from the Newari bi (serpent) and ska (to kill), rooting the festival in its founding legend.

The festival coincides with the Nepali New Year (Baisakh 1 of the Bikram Sambat calendar) but it is its own distinct religious and civic event with deep roots in Bhaktapur's Newar culture. The rituals, the deities honoured, and the social structure of the celebration are entirely specific to this tradition and have no equivalent elsewhere in Nepal. It is, in the words of many who have attended, one of the most intense cultural experiences in Asia.

The festival is primarily celebrated at Taumadi Square and Bhaktapur Durbar Square, but the processions and ceremonies spread through the entire old city over the nine days. For an overview of the most popular festivals in Nepal, see our broader festival guide.

The Legend Behind the Festival

The story at the heart of Bisket Jatra is both strange and genuinely compelling. Long ago, according to Newar tradition, the princess of Bhaktapur was under a deadly curse: every man who shared her bed was found dead by morning, killed by two serpents that emerged from her nostrils in the night. Prince after prince perished. The kingdom was running out of suitors.

Eventually a young prince with tantric powers resolved to marry her. He stayed awake through the wedding night, watched the two serpents emerge, and killed them both with his sword. With the curse broken, the city erupted in celebration, and that celebration became Bisket Jatra.

The two tall wooden poles (called yosin dyah or lingos) raised during the festival are widely understood to represent those two defeated serpents. The festival is believed to have been observed since at least the 12th century, with origins in the Licchavi era and traditions formalised under Malla-period rulers including King Jagat Jyoti Malla.

The Main Events

The nine days are dense with distinct ceremonies. The events that define Bisket Jatra:

• Chariot processions. The two main chariots, the Rath of Bhairavnath (a fierce form of Shiva) and the Rath of Bhadrakali, are assembled and hauled through Bhaktapur's lanes by enormous crowds pulling on thick ropes. The chariots are multi-storey wooden structures decorated with cloth, metalwork, and flowers. The hauling is both a devotional act and a communal feat of strength.
• The great tug-of-war. Bhaktapur is traditionally divided into two rival settlements, Thane (upper) and Kone (lower). Each side competes to pull the chariot toward their territory. The outcome is believed to predict the coming year's fortune for the city. The contest is fierce and draws thousands of participants on each rope.
• Raising and lowering the yosin dyah. Tall wooden poles, sometimes 25 metres high, are raised upright at the start of the festival and lowered ceremonially on the final day. Banners representing the two defeated serpents of the legend are attached to the poles. The raising draws vast crowds and the coordination required is extraordinary.
• Street processions and masked dances. Masked Newar dance performances, music, oil-lamp offerings, and neighbourhood processions continue throughout the nine days, spreading into the residential lanes of the old city well beyond Taumadi Square.

The Tongue-Piercing Ceremony

On one of the festival days, in Bode village just outside Bhaktapur, a single male devotee undergoes what may be the most extraordinary act of religious devotion in Nepal's entire festival calendar. A metal spike is driven through his tongue. He then carries a heavy bamboo rack tipped with lit torches through the village, walking for several hours while the spike remains in place.

The selected man undergoes months of spiritual preparation beforehand: a strict ritual diet, celibacy, purification rites, and intensive prayer. The belief is that a truly faithful and spiritually prepared devotee will feel no pain and bleed very little. He is accompanied by priests and a crowd of thousands.

On the same day, children traditionally offer sweets, fruits, and gifts to their mothers, a quieter ceremony that speaks to the layered, community-wide meaning of what Bisket Jatra represents.

How to Attend Bisket Jatra

• Timing. Bisket Jatra falls in mid-April. Bikram Sambat New Year 2083 falls around 13–14 April 2026. The first day (chariot hauling and pole-raising) and the final day (pole lowering) are the most dramatic, if you can only attend two days, choose those.
• Getting there. Bhaktapur is 13 km east of Kathmandu, roughly 30–45 minutes by taxi from Thamel depending on traffic. Note that Bhaktapur's Durbar Square area charges an entry fee for foreign visitors; keep your ticket as it is valid for multiple days.
• Best spots. Taumadi Square (in front of the Nyatapola temple) and the chariot procession route are the prime locations. Arrive at least an hour before a scheduled procession, crowds fill the narrow lanes quickly.
• Safety. Do not grip the chariot ropes during the tug-of-war, injuries occur every year among those too close to the action. Keep valuables in a front pocket or secure bag. Travelling with a local guide is strongly recommended.
• Photography. General street photography is welcomed. For close-up shots of the tongue-piercing ceremony in Bode, ask permission from those immediately around the devotee, keep a respectful distance, and follow the lead of local attendees on how close is appropriate.
• Accommodation. Book early, April is peak season in Nepal and Bhaktapur fills up fast. Staying in Bhaktapur itself gives you access to early-morning and late-evening events that day-trippers miss.

For more on the Newar people and their culture, visit our dedicated guide. To plan a Nepal trip around Bisket Jatra and the spring season, browse our Nepal treks and tours or read our full list of 18 reasons to visit Nepal in 2026. For the broader festival calendar, see our guide to the festivals you should not miss in Nepal.