The Pancha Dan festival, a significant event in the Buddhist tradition, was celebrated today with great enthusiasm in Bhaktapur. This annual festival observed on the day of Bhadra Krishna Trayodashi, emphasizes the importance of charity as seen in Buddhist teachings. The festival, which was introduced by Jayadev Bajracharya during the reign of Malla King Naresh Malla in Nepal Samvat 775, holds historical significance.
The celebration commenced with the gathering of five Dipankar Buddhas at Adipadma Mahavihara in Suryamadhi, Bhaktapur-9. After a special worship ceremony, the five Buddhas were paraded through all ten wards of Bhaktapur, accompanied by traditional music and rituals.
In addition to Bhaktapur, the Pancha Dan procession also included five Dipankar Buddhas from prominent monasteries in Kathmandu Valley, such as Prasannashila Mahavihara, Jhauwabahi in Golmadhi, Chaturbramha Mahavihara in Sakotha, Jayakirti Vihara in Itachhe, and Samkrit Vihara in Bhravacho.
Buddhist Newars participated in the festival by setting up donation stalls in various viharas, bahis, squares, and homes, where they donated grains, fruits, and money. Bajracharyas, Buddhacharyas, Shakyas, and other followers of Buddhism spent the day collecting alms from these donation sites.
Devchandra Bajracharya, a local resident, explained that the Pancha Dan festival in Bhaktapur is unique and different from similar celebrations in the Kathmandu Valley and other regions. The festival in Bhaktapur involves a historic and archaeological procession of the five Dipankar Buddhas through the town.
Alongside the Dipankar Buddhas, Buddhist devotees participated in the traditional alms-giving ritual, known as pindapatra (Gulupa), carrying alms bowls during the procession. The ritual, which began at Adipadma Mahavihara in eastern Bhaktapur, concluded at Thathubahi in the west.
The festival’s grand finale took place in Taumadhi Square, where all five Dipankar Buddhas were brought together for a joint Pancha Dan celebration. The event featured various musical performances, including the traditional Gunla Baja, Pwangabaaja, and Dafa Bhajan, highlighting the cultural richness of the festival.
Pushparatna Shakya noted that the Pancha Dan festival is particularly distinguished by the playing of the Gunla Baja, which is unique to this occasion. The festival also includes the display of Buddhist artifacts preserved in viharas and bahis. According to Shakya, the tradition of reserving a portion of one’s income for charity, to be given during the Pancha Dan festival, has been maintained by the Buddhist community for generations.
Devchandra Bajracharya also clarified a common misconception, stressing that the five Dipankar Buddhas are often mistakenly referred to as the five Pandavas. He emphasized that these are not the Pandavas but the Dipankar Buddhas, an important distinction in Buddhist tradition.
The Pancha Dan festival is also celebrated in neighboring areas, including Madhyapur Thimi, Kathmandu, Kirtipur, Nala in Kavre, Banepa, and even in Lhasa, China.
