Kartik 6 – The dance of the 'Ashtamatrika' (Eight Mother Goddesses) deities—performed according to traditional Tantric rituals and rooted in deep religious faith—concluded in Lalitpur on Thursday. Rajendra Shakya, Chairperson of the Ashtamatrika Dance Management Committee, stated that the dance, which begins during the 'Navaratri' (nine nights) of Dashain and continues until 'Ekadashi' (the eleventh day), was conducted in strict adherence to traditional rites and religious customs.
This Tantric dance tradition, believed to have originated in Nepal Sambat 784 during the reign of the Malla-era King Srinivasa Malla, has now spanned 362 years. According to tradition, the dance commences on the first day of the bright fortnight of the month of Ashoj (Ashoj Shukla Pratipada) with formal worship rituals held within the premises of Nakbahil in Lalitpur. Holding significant historical importance, this dance has served to keep the distinctiveness, religious devotion, and cultural richness of the Newa civilization alive.
According to Committee Chairperson Shakya, the dance is performed by artists from the Shakya and Vajracharya clans of the Newa community—a tradition dating back to the era of King Srinivasa Malla. The performance is based on the concept of the eight 'great fears' (*maha-bhaya*) in human life: water, fire, lions (or wild beasts), serpents (*nagas*), elephants, thieves, imprisonment, and malevolent spirits (*bhuta*).
On the day of 'Ghatasthapana', the deities—accompanied by traditional music—travel through Nagbahal and Patko to reach Mangalbazar. There, a Rajopadhyaya Brahmin priest of the Taleju temple performs a ritual offering, granting them permission to enter the 'Mulchok' (main courtyard) of the palace. Only after this are the performances formally presented to the general public.
The tradition dictates that after the first phase of the dance concludes at Nakbahil, the performers proceed to the 'Mulchok' within the Lalitpur Durbar Square complex to perform, before eventually returning to Nakbahil. While performances are held at Bahani for five days, special dances are presented at the Moolchok (main courtyard) on the days of Phulpati and Dashami. This year’s series of dances concluded on Thursday—the day of Ekadashi—with a performance at the Dabali (public platform) of Nakbahil.
In this dance, which is associated with the worship of *Shakti* (divine feminine power), thirteen deities perform in a circular formation (*mandala*) following Tantric rituals. It is customary for the performers—representing these deities—to wear special masks, traditional Tantric attire, and ornaments.
The deities featured in this dance include Singhrini, Bhairav, Ganesh, Kumar, Brahmayani, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi (depicted in green), Varahi, Indrayani, Chamunda, Mahalakshmi, and Vyaghrini. The *Ashtamatrika* dance—deeply rooted in religious belief, Tantric practices, and cultural traditions passed down through generations—serves as a defining element of Lalitpur’s historical and cultural identity.
