Wearing those rings is just a part of the festival; Gathemangal is a lot more than that. This year it was celebrated on August 1, and various rituals were seen in different parts of the City on the day.

A group of sturdy looking men of four were tying a bundle of green reeds with straw ropes at Naradevi. Some elderly men were helping them by making ropes out of the straw. All these men, who belonged to the Swetakali Guthi of Naradevi, were making the effigy of Ghantakarna (a mythical being) to celebrate the Gathemangal.

Communities that are members of their respective local guthi erected such effigies in their localities — Kilagal, Chikanmugal, Teku, and more. They even pasted a painted picture similar to that of Akash Bhairab, but with huge bells as his earrings on the effigy.

It is a must for people to work together with other guthi members, as per 73-year-old Rameshwor Maharjan, a member of Kilagal Guthi and a resident of Khusibun. “If we don’t do so, we are fined by the guthi.”

“Lord Krishna’s son was about to marry Usha, the daughter of demon king Baanaashur. Baanaashur was against this decision. So, he fought with Lord Krishna with the support of Shiva and Kumar. But Baanaashur’s team was defeated and Kumar ran away. Burning the effigy of Ghantakarna symbolised the defeat of Kumar,” Joshi said as example. “Kumar belongs to Shaivism, while Krishna belongs to Vaishnavism sect of Hindu religion. And calling Kumar’s incarnation Ghantakarna, a demon, indicates the conflict between Vaishnavism and Shaivism.”

There is one more story related to Gathemangal celebration to which Joshi divulged, “In Newari language, gaa means house, thaan means pillars on which the houses are made and mo means tying up. So, Gathaanmo also means binding the pillars of a house. When the chariot of Rato Macchendranath is made, there is the tradition of tying wooden poles together to erect the chariot, and this tradition is also called Gathaanmo Chigu.”

A similar process is used to make the effigy of Ghantakarna — reeds are tied together with straw ropes to erect the effigy. That is why if Bhoto Jatra festival of Rato Machhendranath has not been conducted till Shrawan Krishna Chaturdashi, people in Patan do not erect the effigy of Ghantakarna for the Gathemangal as the process Gathaanmo Chigu is already done while constructing the Rato Macchendranath chariot.”

In this context, Gathaanmo also signifies strong pillars of temples, chariots, houses and the nation, and the festival is celebrated for the welfare of the entire nation, as per Joshi.