The Central Zoo ( Nepali : सदर चिडियाखाना ) is a 6-hectare (15-acre) zoo in Jawalakhel , Nepal . It is home to some 969 animals in 109 species, and is operated by the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC). Although it was originally a private zoo, it was opened to the public in 1956.
21-667: During the Bhoto Jatra festival, celebrated near the zoo, the zoo may see upwards of 34,000 visitors in a single day after they come to see a historical jeweled vest at the culmination of the Rato Machchhindranath Jatra . The Central Zoo was established in 1932 by Rana Prime Minister Juddha Shumser as a private zoo; it came under government control in 1950. It was built under the engineering and project management of General Maheshwar Shamshere Rana (PM Juddha Shamshere's grandson) and his handpicked skilled and unskilled workforce. It
42-400: A jewel-studded black vest from the four sides of the chariot so that all the people gathered around can have a look at it. The display is a re-enactment of an event that happened eons ago. According to legend, a Jyapu ( Newar farmer) lost the vest which he had received as a gift from the serpent god Karkotaka Naga for doing him a favour. There are two legends of the favor one of them being
63-415: A special rest house. The auspicious day when the Bhoto Jatra is held is determined by astrologers, so the date is changeable. In 2014, the vest showing will be held on 22 June. After the festival, the chariot is dismantled and the parts are stored until it is time for the procession the next year. Rato Machhendranath is taken to a temple in the nearby village of Bungamati , also known as the first home of
84-509: A tourist attraction. The central pond at the zoo was built during the rule of King Siddhi Narsingh Malla, and at one time was the source of water for Patan . The zoo is home to about 870 animals in 109 species, including 15 of 38 endangered local species including Royal Bengal tigers and one-horned rhinoceros , as well as many animals from around the world including hippos , siamang , ostriches , chimpanzee , lemur , and many birds. It also has an aquarium for subtropical fish. Mammals at
105-534: Is a Nepalese chariot festival which is held in Lalitpur , Nepal . It is one of the greatest religious events in the city and the longest chariot festival celebrated in the country. The festival is dedicated to Buṅga Dyaḥ, who is also venerated as Karunamaya ( Newar : करुणामय, "the compassionate one"), an aspect of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara and is popularly believed to bring the monsoon rains. He
126-554: Is also identified as an aspect of the Hindu saint Machhindranātha . More specifically, he is referred as Rato Machhindranath in Nepali , where Rato, meaning "red", is a reference to the colour of the deity's image. The chariot festival is held according to the lunar calendar , so the date is changeable. It begins on the 4th day of the bright fortnight of Bachhalā , the seventh month in the lunar Nepal Sambat calendar. The chariot procession
147-414: Is pulled exclusively by women on the stretch between the localities of Iti and Thati. This part of the chariot procession is known as Yākah Misāyā Bhujyā (याकः मिसाया भुज्या). The parade finishes at the open ground of Jawalakhel which is situated at the western side of Lalitpur. There, the festivities conclude with the ceremony of Bhoto Jatra, the display of the bhoto, a traditional Nepalese vest. During
168-521: Is the climax of the chariot procession of Bunga Dyah Jatra. As per Nepal Bhasa the Jatra should be considered as Pwaklo Jatra because Pwaklo refers to Vest while Bhoto has sleeves. After the two chariots arrive in Jawalakhel, astrologers choose an auspicious date to hold the Bhoto Jatra festival. On the appointed day in the presence of the head of state, a government official climbs on to the chariot and holds up
189-456: The "Barha Barsa Jatra", that happens once in every 12 years, the chariot of the Machhindranath is constructed at Bungamati. The chariot is pulled all the way from Bungamati through Bhaisepati, Nakkhu, Bhanimandal, Jhamsikhel and to Pulchowk. The chariot is pulled from Jhamsikhel (near Ideal Model School) to Pulchowk at night. Then the chariot is pulled through the town at its normal route. After
210-500: The Bhoto Jatra ceremony at Jawalakhel, the idol of Rato Machhindranath is taken back to Bungamati, where it spends the 6 months of the year. In the past, for 12 years, there was no rainfall, and all the river dried off. To find out the solution to this problem, the King of Bhaktapur kingdom at that time went to Swayambhu to meet Tantrik. Then, the Tantrik said that Guru Gorakhnath was angry, so he
231-599: The Jyapu providing him some ayurvedic herbs by examining the ill wife of Karkotaka Naga which healed her. Another legend says that the Jayapu was frightened when Karkotaka Naga asked for some herbs to cure his ill wife so the Jyapu who didn't have any idea regarding herbs gave him his own 'khiti'(dirts from his sweaty body) that healed her. One day, the farmer had come to Jawalakhel to watch the chariot pulling festival where he saw someone wearing his missing garment. A quarrel developed over
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#1732855891064252-400: The chariot through the streets of Lalitpur on a tour that lasts a month. The chariot of Bunga Dyah is accompanied on the journey by a similar but smaller chariot of Chākuwā Dyah (चाकुवा द्यः). The route of the chariot procession starts at Pulchok and passes through Gabahal, Mangal Bazar, Hakha, Sundhara, Chakrabahil, Lagankhel and ends at Jawalakhel . As per time-honored tradition, the chariot
273-448: The king of Bhaktapur, Tantrik from Kathmandu, and a Newar from Lalitpur went to Assam to bring Machhindranath back. They knew that it wouldn’t be easy to get him back because he was the son of Daitya. They tried a lot of techniques but they were not successful in bringing him back. Then the Tantrik called 4 Bhairab and asked them to bring him back. Bhairab brought him back to Guru Gorakhnath, and he stood quietly seeing his teacher. Finally,
294-412: The knowledge of the measurement of land and calculation. Also, they have some distinct cultures and customs a bit different from other Newar traditions. In order to protect the girl from being a widow, who is looked down upon by the rest of Nepal. If the woman's husband dies, she is still technically married to the sun and can hence not be called a widow, a tradition hence defying Sati Pratha imposed by
315-556: The rain god. The deity spends the next six months in that temple. Jyapu The Dangol or Dongol ( Nepal Bhasa : डंगोल ) clan are ethnic people in Newar community from Kathmandu Valley, predominantly found in Kathmandu , Nepal . They belong to the Jyapu ( Nepal Bhasa : ज्यापू: ) subcaste within the Newar family and are highly urbanized. In the olden times, they were farmers known for
336-500: The serpents were free then the rain started raining on the valley. Now, the king, Tantrik, and Newar couldn't decide how district Machhindranath should be kept, so they went to Lalitpur King to find the solution. Lalitpur King was very clever as he chose to keep RatoMachhindranath on Lalitpur. From that day, every year, people celebrate this festival in Lalitpur and pray for good rainfall. Bhoto Jatra, which literally means "vest festival",
357-414: The vest, and since neither party could prove ownership, it was agreed that the undershirt would be kept with Bunga Dyah until the rightful owner comes to claim it with adequate proof. Since then, the vest has been shown to the public annually as a call to potential claimants to step forward. The living goddess Kumari of Patan also arrives in Jawalakhel to observe Bhoto Jatra. She watches the ceremony from
378-571: The zoo include: Reptiles at the zoo include: Birds at the zoo include: Animals in the Central Zoo of Nepal are in the following categories and numbers, as of April 2011: The zoo includes a library, a children's small fun park, picnic areas and paddle boats on the lake. Fishing is allowed in the lake during some parts of the year. Rato Machchhindranath Jatra Rato Machindranath Jatra ( Nepali : रातो मच्छिन्द्रनाथको रथयात्रा ), also known as Buṅga Dyaḥ Jātrā ( Newar : बुंग द्यः जात्रा )
399-452: Was instituted to celebrate the arrival of Bunga Dyah in Nepal and the end of a devastating drought. It was started when Narendra Deva was the king (640-683 AD). Preparations for the festival begin with the construction of a 60-foot tall chariot at Pulchok at the western end of Lalitpur. When the chariot is complete, the image of Bunga Dyah from his temple is installed in it. Revellers then drag
420-473: Was meditating on the cushion of 9 mighty serpents whose duty was the prime reason of rainfall in the valley. Until and unless the serpents would be free, rainfall wouldn't happen in the valley. It was possible only when his teacher Rato Machhindranath visited him. So the king started searching for his teacher. After some time, they found out that Machhindranath was reborn as the 108th son of King Sashi in Assam. Then
441-577: Was opened to the public in 1956, and in December 1995, the government handed over responsibility of the zoo to the National Trust for Nature Conservation. Although work is not complete, the NTNC has been upgrading the facilities so that animals can live in larger enclosures that simulate their natural environment. It is also working towards turning the zoo into a research and educational facility, as well as remaining
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