In the early morning of September 1, 2025 devotees gathered at Saugal Tol to begin the
Mataya procession. The organising tol served as the starting and ending point of the
procession in the year it is designated to host Mataya.
From Saugal, the procession followed a route through Patan, visiting more than 2,000
stupas, chaityas and other devotional structures located within the area marked by the
four cardinal stupas of Patan: Lagankhel in the south, Pulchowk in the east, Sankhamul
in the north and Imadol in the west.
The procession continues throughout the day, with devotees gradually returning to the
organising tol by late evening. Alongside Mataya, the Neku Jatra follows a separate
route. It begins in the afternoon from the organising tol and moves through different
locations across Patan.
Mataya is one of Patan’s culturally significant festivals. Participants walk through the
city carrying lamps, making offerings, performing music and dance, and taking on
different symbolic characters. The name Mataya comes from the Newari words mata,
meaning light, and ya, meaning journey—together referring to a journey of light.
The procession brings together several forms of ritual and performance. Devotees offer
food, money and other items at devotional sites. Performers known as Khyalah dress as
demons, ghosts and other figures. Musical groups from different Patan communities
perform baja along the route, while others participate dressed as Mahadev or sages.
Light bearers carry candles throughout the procession.
The festival also involves a strong tradition of community support. Along the route,
people provide food, snacks, refreshments and medical assistance to participants. These
acts of service are themselves considered forms of punya, or religious merit.
Many of Mataya’s elements carry specific religious and cultural meanings. Bajracharya
priests lead rituals, while representations of deities and celestial beings appear through
objects, costumes and performances. Mahadev is represented through the damaru,
while Vishnu is associated with conch shells. Kinnara and Gandharva, traditionally
associated with music and dance, are represented through performances. Offerings such
as roti also carry symbolic meanings, including the victory over Mara (demons).
These practices have been passed down through generations and continue to be
maintained by the communities that organise and participate in Mataya each year. The
festival therefore functions not only as a religious observance but also as a way of
maintaining Patan’s cultural memory.
However, not all of these traditions have remained intact. Some symbols and practices
have gradually disappeared or become less visible over time. Their decline points to the
need for greater efforts to document, understand and revitalise the cultural practices
associated with Mataya.
As thousands of people move through Patan each year, the procession connects temples,
courtyards, neighbourhoods and communities across the city. More than a religious
journey, Mataya demonstrates how cultural heritage can continue to exist through
participation—through people walking the same routes, performing the same rituals and passing their meanings on to the next generation.
