In celebration of Shri Krishna Janmashtami, approximately 10,000 young girls will be worshipped today in Kavre, continuing a tradition that has been upheld in Banepa for 122 years. The Kanya Puja, a ritual in which girls under the age of 10 who have not yet reached puberty are honored, begins in the ancient and historic town of Banepa and is held annually on this auspicious day.
According to the Sanatan Kanya Puja Management Committee, around 7,000 girls from Banepa will be worshipped during the ceremony, which is set to begin at midday. In recent years, the practice has expanded to other areas within the district. The Kanya Puja, which dates back to 1902 B.S. (1852 A.D.), takes place in Banepa’s old market, where girls line the streets from Bholakha Tole to Layaku Durbar and Char Dobato. Devotees from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, and neighboring districts come to participate in the worship.
Committee member Prakash Kayastha shared that during the Kanya Puja, 135 devotees will distribute offerings, including Swari, Malpua, money, Jeri, biscuits, nuts, and various sweets. Each girl will receive a red tika on her forehead after being anointed with pure mustard oil, symbolizing her status as a goddess.
The tradition holds that worshipping girls who have not yet reached puberty or undergone Bel Bibaha brings good health to the girls and fulfills the desires of the worshippers. This belief has led to the continuation of Kanya Puja in other areas of Kavre, such as Nala, Panauti, Sanga, and Dolalghat.
Every year, around 7,000 young girls from Kavre and neighboring districts participate in the Banepa ceremony. The belief is that worshipping these girls ensures good health for them and religious merit for the worshippers, resulting in large crowds.
Another legend suggests that among the girls who line up for the Kanya Puja, divine beings like Devkanya, Nagkanya, Gandharvakanya, Kinnarkanya, and Kichakanya also appear in human form. These girls are worshipped as the goddess Chandeshwari, who is believed to have liberated the seven villages of Banepa from demons. The Newar community of Banepa celebrates the occasion with various displays and musical performances.
The Bhoci Bhoya clan of Banepa, who consider themselves descendants of Chandeshwari, ensure that the worship is open to girls from all castes and communities. The Kanya Puja begins only after the worship of Ganesh and Kumar in Bholakha Tole, Banepa-3. According to legend, the ritual began when a Newar family, facing hardships, worshipped their daughters in the attic of their home. Initially limited to Newar girls, the practice later expanded to include girls from all communities.
