Narasiṃha Dance at Kārtik Ḍabalī - 1965 AD

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Narasiṃha Dance being performed at
Kārtik Ḍabalī at Maṅgalbazār, Lalitpur in 1965 AD.

ललितपुरको मङ्गलबजारस्थित कार्तिक डबलीमा  नरसिंह नाच (वि.सं. २०२२)

Photo Courtesy: Kartik Nach Promotion Committee / Memory Zone

Kārtik Dance, called Kati Pyākha(n) (कति प्याखँ) in Newārī language, is one of the most popular masked dance since the late Middle Ages. Its history dates back to King Siddhi Narsiṁha Malla of Lalitpur.

Over a period of over 350 years, Kārtik Dance has seen a lot of changes. Now, Kārtik Dance is a 7-day long theatrical performance, and has recently been extended to 10-days. 

In the above photograph, Lord Narasiṁha is seen .

The performers in the above photograph are:

Narasiṁha = Pundit Chakradhar Sharma of Mahadyanani, Lalitpur
Hiraṇyakaśyapu = Maniklal Chitrakar

This photograph dates back to 1965 AD.

Old Indrajatra

Indrajatra being celebrated on Durbar Square, before the earthquake. The electric poles were hooked up to the front grid in town when the hydroelectric station in Pharping, south of Kathmandu, went into operation in 1911.

Paśupati - Old Photo

Today, the complex of Paśupatināth temple is strictly prohibited for photography and video-graphy.

This photograph was taken in 1920 A.D. when there were no such prohibitions, as very few knew what cameras and films were.

Some may not want to bring this photo into limelight, because of the fact that a holy temple to one of the most revered deities of Hindus (or Śaivas) is wrongly(?) clicked onto a film. But for lovers of the past things and monuments, this photograph is indeed a wonderful sight to behold.

Paśupatināth Temple

पशुपतिनाथ मन्दिर

During the 1920s

 

Gvala (Devapāṭan / Deupāṭan)

Kāṭhmāṇḍu, Nepal.

No significant changes can be observed in the complex now, based on these photographs except some of the following:

1. The poles around the complex are interesting. I have not confirmed whether they were for electricity purposes or not.

2. Interestingly, no single person is seen in the photograph. With the flood of devotees at this holy temple now-a-days at every time of the day, it is almost hard to imagine the complex without any person.

3. The modern Paśupati temple is with marble floor and marble attached even to the main temple. This was not so when the above photograph was clicked. How the temple area looked like before the marble was introduced is clear from this one.

4. Few structural changes can be observed, e.g. the Unmatta Bhairava temple (south of the Paśupati temple) and other small temples.

Sorhakhuṭṭe Pāṭī

Sorhakhuṭṭe Pāṭī

सोह्रखुट्टे पाटी

Sixteen (16) Pillared Rest House

Kathmandu, Nepal.

Before 1950s

Source: Vintage Nepal

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Khauma in 1970s

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Khauma, Bhaktapur

In 1970s

Photo By: Minketan Raj Sharma (Khauma)

Old Photo: Lākhe dance in Indra Jātrā

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Lākhe and Jhyāliñcā during the Indra Jātrā

Location : Kathmandu Durbar Square

Old Photo: Ason Bazār

Ason Bazār in 1969 AD (2026 BS)

Location : Ason, Kathmandu
Date : 1969 A.D. (2026 B.S.)

In the photograph, the temple at the right is the Gaṇeśa temple. 

People from various parts of the city and outside the city come here to sell their goods in the doko, as depicted in this photograph.

Note the neo-classical buildings. A vehicle is also seen in this photograph. 

Old Photo: Aakash Bhairav

Aakash Bhairav at around the turn of century

Location : Indrachoka, Kathmandu, Nepal.

In the photograph, the temple at the right side is that of Ākāśa Bhairava.

In many temples, people would not be allowed to go to the roof (except on some occasions, in some temples), unlike in this photograph. But locals would go to the roof of the temple from the top of the adjacent house. Now, after the reconstruction of this temple in 2000s, going to the roof (as in this photograph) is not allowed.

The photograph depicts a festive occasion, and people have gathered in large number at every possible places that outlook the street.