Banepa

Banepa
बनेपा (भोंत),Bandikapur
भोंदेय् (नेपाल भाषा)
Municipality/ Town
Banepa
Banepa
Location in Nepal
Coordinates: 27°38′N 85°31′E / 27.633°N 85.517°E / 27.633; 85.517Coordinates: 27°38′N 85°31′E / 27.633°N 85.517°E / 27.633; 85.517
Country Nepal
Zone Bagmati Zone
District Kabhrepalanchok
Government
 • Mayor Mr. Laxmi Narsingh Bade Shrestha
 • Deputy Mayor Ms. Rekha Dahal
 • Executive Officer Ms. Kamla Giri Bharati
Area
 • Total 5.56 km2 (2.15 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total 55,528
 • Density 10,000/km2 (26,000/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+5:45 (NST)
Post code 45210
Area code(s) 011
Website www.banepamun.gov.np

Banepa (Nepal Bhasa: भोंत), a historical town is a valley situated at about 4,800 ft (1,500 m) above sea level in central Nepal which is at about 25 kilometres (16 mi) east from Kathmandu. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, it has a population of 24,764. The main attraction of Banepa is the temple of Chandeshwori, located approximately 1 km (0.62 mi) northeast of the town along the Rudramati River. The Dhaneshwor Temple is 1 km south of the town. Banepa is also known for its eight different temples of Lord Ganesh, Narayanthan, the temple of Lord Narayan, Bhimshenthan, the temple of Lord Bhimshen and eight different ponds.

History

Chandeshwari Temple of Banepa

"After having had the favours and directions of goddess Chandeshwori, King Anandadeva Malla founded seven cities, viz,

King Anandedeva Malla united the scattered villages and made modern Banepa surrounded by eight gates with a Ganesh (the elephant - headed god of good omen) at each of the gates in eight different directions in Kaligat Year 4197 (around 1153 B.S.). He also built a temple of Chandeshwori and arranged a trust fund for the goddess. It is also believed that when entire Kathmandu Valley was covered with lake, there was a small kindgdom in Banepa.

Some of the ancient names of Banepa were Banepur, Baniyapur, Banipur . As it had trade relationship with Tibet from ancient period, Banepa is also known as "Bhont", "Bhonta", "Bhon dey(भोंदेय्)". Banepa is the combination of two words i.e. "Bane" means 'Business' and "Pa" means 'Place'. Therefore, "Banepa" means 'Place of Business'.[1]

Old town

Pond of Waku Ganesh Temple

The old Newa: town is located at the central part of the City. It is surrounded by 8 ganesh temples with 8 adjacent ponds and Phalchaa(फल्चा). The name of the Ganesh are:

  • Tukampwo (तुकम्प्वो) Ganeshat South
  • Temple of Tukampwo Ganesh was established first of all other Ganesh Temple by King Anandadeva Malla after forming new Kingdom of Banepa. It is also the major temple of Banepa.
  • Kobha (कोभः) Ganesh at Southeast
  • Waku (वकु) Ganesh at East
  • Thachhu (थाछु) Ganesh at North
  • Kanthu (कांथु) Ganesh at Northeast
  • Kwonla (क्वोंला) Ganesh at Southwest
  • Talapukhu (तलाःपुखु) Ganesh at West
  • Jyasanani (ज्यासःननी) Ganesh at Northwest

These Ganesh temples are said to be the boundaries of old Banepa. Many Temple is Ganesh Temple but main temple of Banepa city is Chandeswori. Dhaneshwor temple is famous for the followers of Lord Shiva (Mahadev). Along with this, King Ananda Dev Malla also built wells and taps for providing the Banepalis with the good source of water. But many of those ponds have been used for public uses and some 'Phalchaa' do not have any existence today.[2]

Festivals

Chandeshwori Jatra
It is the statue of Jaaludyo of Banepa.

A lot of festivals are celebrated in Banepa as follows:

  1. Chandeshwori Jatra from Baisakh Purnima to next two days.
  2. Kanya Pooja (worshipping of the young girls) during Gunla, Krishna Janmastami
  3. Nawadurga Jatra
  4. Ganesh Jatra during Vijaya Dashami
  5. भीमसेन जात्रा Bhimsen Jatra
  6. Jaaludyo Jatra (जालुद्याे जात्रा) on the day of Ashwin Krishna Praipada, the next day of Indra Jatra.
  7. Naradevi Shvetkali Naach (नरदेवी श्वेतकाली नाच, once in twelve years. It was re-continued after about after 38 years.

Forgotten Festivals of Banepa

Above mentioned festivals are still in practice. But there were many other besides these which had been discontinued due to various reasons. Some of those festivals are listed as follows:

  • Kumari Nritya (कुमारी नृत्य) had been discontinued about 108 years ago.
  • Jatras of Tukwampo GaneThese are just few forgotten festivals of Banepa; there were still many. These festivals are the identity of Banepa and its people and also it reflects the culture of Banepa.

It may be very difficult to re-continue these forgotten festivals but not impossible.sh, Narayan and Bhimsen; Bokakhah Jatra(बाेकखः जात्रा) on Axaya Tritiya (अक्षयतृतीया), Karunamaya Jatra which had been discontinued about 103 years ago.[3]

Need of Research

Banepa is an ancient city which has an interesting history. History of Banepa is not totally known till date; only few things have been discovered. There maybe many important documents, and other proofs which are still to be discovered. If every well wishers and people of Banepa want, then it is possible to discover the forgotten history of Banepa even today.The culture can be saved once again.

Present situation

Punyamata River, which was the major source of drinking water, irrigation and many other activities, is being polluted day by day. The bank of Punyamata River has been a place where solid wastage has been disposed.The sewage has been connected directly to the river without any treatment and in an unmanaged way has adversely affected the river water. Waste materials produced from local industry have turned the river water black. The surrounding countryside is also being polluted.

Although Banepa is a small place of an area of 5.56 square kilometres (2.15 sq mi), it has got the population density of 4,454 per square kilometre (11,540/sq mi). Due to the connection of Banepa with other places through roadways, about 300 buses, minibuses, cars, trucks, motorcycles altogether are helping in the transportation in a day. Along with this, the gases emitted from those vehicles have polluted the environment of Banepa.

In the boundary of three municipalities of Kavrepalanchowk District, namely; Banepa, Dhulikhel and Panauti, the country's only IT Park is being constructed. All the three cities have been declared as the 'Cyber City'.

Health services

Banepa has a Seventh-day Adventist hospital called Scheer Memorial Hospital, which was established in 1957. This hospital has been expanded as a medical college associated with Vanderbilt University in the USA and Kathmandu University. Many students enroll in the MBBS and B.Sc. Nursing programs at this hospital. Banepa is also the location of the Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children and Reiyukai Eiko Masunaga Eye Hospital.

Transportation

Araniko Highway

Banepa is also a major trade route to Tibet, with the Arniko Rajmarg, the only highway that connects Nepal and China (Tibet), running through this town. Furthermore, another newly constructed highway, the B.P. Koirala Highway (named after great leader of Nepal Bishweswor Prasad Koirala), also passes through this town. Though it is a small town, but it is well devolved and Banepa is the major economic center east of Kathmandu.

Media

To promote local culture, Banepa has two FM radio stations: Radio ABC - 89.8 MHz which is a Community Radio Station and Prime Fm. This area also has a Television Channel named as Araniko Television.

Education

Banepa is also the best place for education in Kabhre district of Nepal. There are a number of high schools and colleges.

Some of the well-known private boarding schools are:

Among them the oldest private school is Pragati Prabhat School and the newest one is Kshitij English Boarding School which was established in 2006 A.D.

References

  1. ↑ बनेपा स्तवन - ज्ञानकाजी मानन्धर
  2. ↑ बनेपा सात गाउँ - ज्ञानकाजी मानन्धर
  3. ↑ बनेपा स्तवन - ज्ञानकाजी मानन्धर
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