A 400-year-old Golden Throne of The Malla King Sri Niwas Malla is Displayed at Krishna Mandir, Patan Durbar Square on the Occasion of Jya: Punhi, also known as Jestha Shukla Purnima. Photo by Suprince Shakya

Sri Niwas Malla was the King of the Lalitpur Kingdom (1661 to 1685) whose golden throne is displayed once a year on Jestha Shukla Purnima, the full moon day of the Jestha month (May/June). With it, the Paubha painting of Lord Krishna by Siddhi Narsingh Malla is displayed too.

The throne is made over the structure of Garuda, a mythical bird. The two lions standing over the pair of elephants symbolizing wealth, flank the seat on either side. Eleven coiled serpents form the backrest of the throne with their hoods lined up as halos rise above the King's head when he sits upon it. The serpents are believed to protect the ruler from evil powers. The throne was built in 1666 and according to the scriptures and inscription on it, the royal seat is dedicated to all the public not only the royal family.

On both sides of the throne are the national flags of Nepal. Additionally, the two Bodhi Brikshya (Bodhi plants) on either side, symbolize the combined and equalized form of Hinduism and Buddhism, according to the experts.

With the formal end of the Malla regime in the Kathmandu Valley and the unification of the modern nation, the throne had remained unattended and disregarded inside the old Malla Palace in Patan. The throne designed to be easily carried by separating the parts, had its pieces scattered and stored at various locations. Later, all the pieces were collected and the assembled throne is now displayed at the Patan Museum of Lalitpur.

What is Jya: Punhi?

Jya: Punhi, also known as Tachala Thwa Punhi in the Newar language is called Jestha Shukla Purnima in Nepali, is particularly celebrated by the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley. For them, this day marks the beginning of the agricultural season, specifically the rice planting season. On this day and onwards, all festivities, feasts, and religious rituals come to a halt as everyone, but these days farmers only become fully engaged in rice-planting activities. Hence, this full moon day is termed as Jya: Punhi, where Jya: means rice and Punhi means the full moon day, so literally "Rice Planting Full Moon).

Newars refer to the period starting from this full moon as "Sinajya/Sinha Jya', emphasizing the significance of rice planting, which was considered the main crop for the entire year. According to the tradition, if a family member died during the busy planting season, the body was placed on the house's southern side, and planting continued, with the funeral delayed. It was believed that if the planting were not done properly, the family would face food shortages, leading to the term 'Sinajya' meaning 'Work till death'.

The Five Dipankar Buddhas parade around Bhaktapur giving an audience to the devotees who in reverence offer “Pancha Daan” to the Buddhas. Photo by Nikki Thapa

Historical and Cultural Significance of Jya: Punhi

On Jya: Punhi day, Sri Niwas Malla's golden throne is placed on the Krishna Mandir's plinth for the locals to pray and worship the throne and King, because according to the legend he used to distribute rice seedlings and offer loans to those struggling with crop production. Another story suggests that during the Panchadaan festival, Sri Niwas Malla received the golden throne as a gift from a devotee at the Mahabodhi complex.

During this time, the Megh Malhaar songs are sung at the Patan Durbar Square, believed to being rain after singing the thirty-two songs with 15 Ragas, a melodic framework of eastern classical music. Among these songs, "Shyam Dhani", composed by Siddhi Narsingh Malla is exclusively sung on this day.

In Panauti, the town located 32 km Southeast of the capital Kathmandu, grand processions of Sri Unmatta Bhairav and Sri Bhadrakali are held on this day. Both the deities are placed on separate chariots and brought to a place called Police Paati, where they are made to collide, symbolizing their union.

According to legend, once Parvati, in the form of sixty-four Yoginis, attempted a seducement on Shiva during his meditation. When Shiva awoke and saw the Yoginis, he took the form of Unmatta Bhairav. Frightened Parvati transformed into Bhadrakali and fled. Bhairav pursued her, and they met at a certain place, where they united three times. This union is symbolized by their chariot collision. Additionally, if the priest mounted on a chariot of the Indreshwar Mahadev is thrown off during the festival, he must offer one tola (11.6638 grams) to the temple.

The Decline of Traditional Practices of Jya: Punhi

A significant ceremony of worshipping land by the eldest family member is also on the verge of disappearing. According to the tradition, the eldest family member first performs a ritual facing east. Three days later another ritual, facing north, praying for sufficient rain, followed by planting rice on a precise day, usually the 15th day of the Nepali month Asadh (June/July).

With a belief, that the son-in-law preparing a field would yield abundant rice, daughters and sons-in-law are customarily invited to homes, and gifted sweets and whole betel nuts as Sagun, a ritualized presentation of auspicious food, after the plantation is over. The house then hosts big feasts for everyone who assisted in planting rice for days.

Farmers of Barala village cleaning rice saplings. Salyan district. Photo by Nikki Thapa

But with urbanization taking over, the farmland is shrinking and so is the singing of traditional songs and melodies when planting rice. the tradition of Jya: Punhi these days is limited to showcasing Sri Niwas Malla's golden throne at Patan Durbar Square.

Source: Facebook Post by Frannkey Franz