SATV Kathmandu Oct 08: Hadigaun Jatra, also known as Kahi Nabhako Jatra, is a unique festival celebrated in Hadigaun, Kathmandu, revered by the local Newar community as a spiritual ritual that brings protection, prosperity, and blessings to families and the village. Held annually after the full moon (Purnima) of Kojagrat following Dashain, its exact timing varies, giving it the nickname “Kahi Nabhako” (“festival without a fixed date”). The festival’s highlight is its three massive chariots, or khats, carried on the shoulders of devotees rather than wheels, inverted umbrella-shaped at the top with statues of deities and a pinnacle at the bottom, rotated clockwise as they move through the village. Devotees perform rituals, dances, and prayers to honor Lord Satya Narayan and other deities, with a unique belief that pouring oil on Narayan’s head predicts a child’s gender: right for a son, left for a daughter. More than a celebration, Hadigaun Jatra is a living tradition, reflecting the Newar community’s rich cultural heritage, spiritual devotion, and strong sense of community.