Kathmandu – A grand traditional *khat jatra* (chariot procession) of Shri Ashok Binayak, popularly known as Maru Ganesh, is held in Kathmandu during Mohani Nakha, the Newar community’s celebration of Dashain, as part of the valley’s rich festival traditions, on Thursday.
Ashok Binayak, one of the four principal Ganesh shrines in the Kathmandu Valley, is located in Maru near the historic Kasthamandap. The deity is also known as Kathmandu Ganesh and is popularly called “Ganesh Without a Pinnacle” because the temple lacks a traditional *gajur* (pinnacle) on its roof.
Located in Maru, the historic temple is an important religious and cultural landmark in Kathmandu. It is believed to have been established around the 11th or 12th century and is associated with the valley’s long-standing traditions of Ganesh worship.
According to local belief, the tantric scholar Lilabajra Bajracharya of Layaku Bahi played a role in consecrating the deity and establishing the temple in Nepal Sambat 139.
During Mohani Nakha, special rituals and processions dedicated to various deities are observed across Kathmandu. The khat jatra of Ashok Binayak is among the traditions that preserve the valley’s distinctive religious practices, community bonds and cultural heritage.
The annual jatra reflects the enduring religious devotion and living cultural heritage of Kathmandu, where traditional festivals continue to connect communities with their historical and spiritual roots.
Photo : Dipankar Ratna Shakya
