Slide 1

The Avalokitesvara Chariot Festival

A Photo-featured Presentation

By: Kishor Bhai Bajracharya; Milan Shakya

觀世音聖駕出巡

以照片為主的呈現

呈現者∶Kishor Bhai Bajracharya 及 Milan Shakya

Slide 2

Background

•The Chariot festival of Avalokitesvara is said to have begun during the reign of the Licchhavi King of

the Kathmandu Valley. His name was Narendra Deva whose empire was in the present day

Bhaktapur.

觀世音聖駕出巡節慶據説起源於加一名離車族國王統治德滿都谷之時。他的名字是纳伦德拉•

德瓦（Narendra Deva），而他的王朝建立與現今的巴克塔普尔（Bhaktapur）。

•During his time, there was an acute drought that lasted for many years. The king didn’t know how

to end the problem. So he consulted with the Bajracharya priest called Bandhudatta Acarya.

在他統治期間，發生一歷經多年的旱災，而此王不知道如何解決這項天災，因而詢問了一名名

為 Bandhudatta 的金剛阿闍黎。

•Contd….

下一頁繼續….

Slide 3

Background

•The Buddhist Vajrayana priest Bandhudatta after receiving instruction from his guru Shantikara

Acarya concluded that if Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva set free the Nagas, there would be rainfall and

the people would be happy.

這名 Bandhudatta 金剛阿闍黎後來請示他的上師 Shantikara 阿闍黎，斷定說如果觀世音菩薩釋

放龍王們，即會降雨，人民也會因此歡喜。

•Then the king, Vajracarya and the farmer went to Assam to fetch Avalokitesvara to Nepal. They

successfully brought him to the Kathmandu Valley.

事後，國王，金剛阿闍黎以及一名農夫到了印度阿薩姆州去引請觀世音菩薩到尼泊爾來，並成

功地把菩薩接到加德滿都谷。

•Then the king established the Avalokitesvara Chariot festival in the seventh-eighth century.

因此，國王在七、八世紀時，設立了觀世音聖駕出巡的慶典。

Slide 4

Photo-features

圖片

•What follows next is the photo-features of Avalokitesvara Chariot festival with necessary captions.

接下來是一些觀世音聖駕出巡的照片及圖解。

Slide 5

Padmapani Lokesvara–Avalokitesvara who is holding lotus flower in his hand

蓮花手觀音菩薩（Padmapani Lokesvara）既是手持蓮花的觀世音菩薩。

Slide 6

One of the two main temples of Padmapani Avalokitesvara at Bungamati

蓮花手觀音菩薩有兩座主要寺廟，圖中是設立在 Bungamati 的其中一座。

Slide 7

One of the two main temples of Padmapani Avalokitesvara at Bungamati, Lalitpur

蓮花手觀音菩薩有兩座主要寺廟，圖中是設立在帕坦市 Bungamati 的其中一座。

Slide 8

One of the two main temples of Padmapani Avalokitesvara at Tahbahal, Lalitpur

蓮花手觀音菩薩有兩座主要寺廟，圖中是設立在帕坦市 Tahbahal 的其中一座。

Slide 9

Padmapani Avalokitesvara is being taken from his temple at Tahbahal, Lalitpuron a palanquin to the

chariot stationed at Pulchowk, Lalitpur

用轝把蓮花手觀音菩薩從其寺廟擡至他位於帕坦市 Pulchowk 的聖轎。

Slide 10

Padmapani Avalokitesvara is being enshrined into the main shrine in the Chariot on the auspicious

day. Four days after Avalokitesvara is enshrined, the Chariot will be towed by the local robust people

and taken at a temporary halt around the holy and important places of Lalitpur.

There is a great celebration for one month.

擇吉日把蓮花手觀音菩薩安坐於聖轎中的正殿。四天後，聖轎將被當地的壯漢擡到帕坦市的各

個神聖與重要的地方。

Slide 11

Padmapani Avalokitesvara Chariot is pulled to Gahabal where it stops for a day. Now the chariot is

being pulled with tumultuous sounds of Newari drums, flutes, cymbals etc. In the picture, there is a

large crowd of people observing the chariot as it negotiates its way through the wide road of

Pulchowk to Gahabal. There is a feasting ceremony for two days for the people of Gahabahal,

Lalitpur.

蓮花手觀音菩薩的聖轎被擡到了 Gahabal，暫停一日。聖轎的遊行，有尼瓦鼓、笛與鈸的歡騰

伴奏。圖中，有大批的人潮來觀禮，參與聖轎遊歷 Pulchowk 至 Gahabal 的這一段路。帕坦市

Gahabahal 的民衆將爲此慶祝兩天。

Slide 12

Padmapani Avalokitesvara Chariot is pulled to Sundhara, Lalitpur where it stops for two days. Now

the chariot is being pulled with tumultuous sounds of Newari drums, flutes, cymbals etc. In the

picture, there is a large crowd of people observing the chariot as it negotiates its way through the

narrow road of Mangal Bazaar to Sundhara. There is a feasting ceremony for two days for the people

of Hakha and Sundhara, Lalitpur.

蓮花手菩薩的聖轎被擡到了帕坦市 Sundhara，暫停二日。聖轎的遊行，有尼瓦鼓、笛與鈸的

歡騰伴奏。圖中，有大批的人潮來觀禮，參與聖轎遊歷 Mangal Bazaar 至 Sundhara 的這一段路。

Hakha 及帕坦市 Sundhara 的民衆將爲此慶祝兩天。

Slide 13

The two chariots of the two forms of Avalokitesvara, namely Padmapani Lokesvara and Jatadhari

Lokesvara are being pulled to Sundhara, Lalitpur where they stops for two days. Now the chariots

are being pulled with tumultuous sounds of Newari drums, flutes, cymbals etc. In the videoclip,

there is a large crowd of excited people observing the chariots as they negotiate their way through

the narrow road of Mangal Bazaar via Hakha tole enroute to Sundhara. There is a delightful feasting

ceremony for two days for the people of Hakha and Sundhara, Lalitpur.

同時都是觀世音菩薩化身的兩尊蓮花手觀音菩薩與長髮觀音菩薩的聖轎被擡到了帕坦市

Sundhara，暫停二日。聖轎的遊行，有尼瓦鼓、笛與鈸的歡騰伴奏。影像中，有大批的人潮來

觀禮，參與聖轎遊歷 Mangal Bazaar 經由 Hakha tole 至 Sundhara 的這一段路。Hakha 及帕坦市

Sundhara 的民衆將爲此慶祝兩天。

Slide 14

Now the chariot is being pulled with tumultuous sounds of Newari drums, flutes, cymbals etc. In the

picture, there is a large crowd of people observing the chariot as it completes the 90 degree turns so

does the smaller chariot following it through the narrow turning way to make their way to

Jawalakhel. There is a feasting ceremony for two days for the people of Hakha and Sundhara,

Lalitpur. The relatively smaller and shorter chariot is also Avalokitesvara Chariot enshrining another

form of Avalokitesvara called Jatadhari Lokesvara.

聖轎的遊行，有尼瓦鼓、笛與鈸的歡騰伴奏。圖中，有大批人潮觀禮，目睹聖驕與小型轎子在

前往 Jawalakhel 的路上遇到急彎處所進行的 90 度轉彎。Hakha 及 帕坦市 Sundhara 的民衆將爲

此慶祝兩天。較小台的轎子供奉的是觀世音菩薩的另一尊化身，名為長髮觀音菩薩。

Slide 15

The robust people from local areas and other places gather to pull the chariot in an enthusiastic and

high spirit. They are empowered mentally by their chariot leader (Newari: Hawabihma) who

normally stands on the wooden log (Newari: Dhomaa) representing Karkotak Nagaraja.

當地與外地來的壯漢們興高采烈地拉著聖轎。他們倍受擡轎領導的鼓舞，這位領導通常站在木

頭上，代表著 Karkotak 龍王。

Slide 16-17

It is said that Padmapani Avalokitesvara’s mother in his emanation lives in temple (covered by tree in

this photograph) in Lagankhel. Here in this picture, the Avalokitesvara in his chariot followed by

another Avalokitesvara called Jatadhari Lokesvara are circumambulating their mother (Yaksini) three

times before coming to a temporary halt at Lagankhel. At that time there will a great feast and

festival for the people of Lagankhel, Nakabahil, Nagabahal, Lalitpurand so on.

據傳說，蓮花手觀音菩薩的母親之前的應化身住在 Lagankhel 的這座寺廟裏（圖中被樹遮蓋）。

圖中，觀世音菩薩在聖轎中與另一位名為長髮觀音菩薩的觀世音菩薩化身在繞母親（Yaksini）

三匝，再暫停於 Lagankhel。屆時，Lagankhel、 Nakabahil、 Nagabahal 及 帕坦市等地的居民將

盛大的慶祝此節慶。

Slide 18

The jewel studded cloth being shown by the government official of Nepal Government is believed to

be a vest belonging to Avalokitesvara. After it shown to the public including the president of Nepal,

Prime ministers of Nepal at Jawalakhel, the Chariot festival comes to its end. The image of

Avalokitesvara is taken out and taken on palanquin to Bungmati temple, Avalokitesvara’s another

temple and the chariot is dismantled. The government of Nepal gives a public holiday on this

particular day.

圖中由尼泊爾政府官員捧著瓖上寶石的布被認爲是觀世音菩薩的背心。當這件衣裳在

Jawalakhel 接受了尼泊爾總統與諸位總理的瞻仰後。節慶就告一個段落。觀世音菩薩的聖像將

從聖轎取出，用轝來運到也屬觀音菩薩廟宇的 Bungamati 寺廟，聖轎也將被拆除。尼泊爾政府

把此日定為國定假日。

Slide 19

Normally every year the chariot is made and first towed from Pulchowk. But once every 12 year, the

chariot is made in the area behind Bungmati temple and towed with much hardship by local people

until it reaches Pulchowk via many difficult roads even wading across the Nakhu river. Then once it

reaches Pulchowk it is welcomed by the smaller chariot enshrining Jatadhari Lokesvara and both of

them resume the normal festivities lasting for a month.

一般上，這聖轎是在 Pulchowk 的，也從此地出發，可是每十二年，聖轎就在 Bungmati 寺廟的

後方建造，然後費盡功夫地由當地人擡到 Pulchowk，路途艱難，還需要淺度 Nakhu 河。一旦

聖轎抵達了 Pulchowk，會受到當地載有長髮觀音菩薩較小的轎子將的迎接。此後，兩台轎子

會一同繼續進行慶典活動，歷時一個月。

Slide 20

This year, starting from May, 2015, the chariot festival begins from Bungmati after 12 years. There

will be a grand celebration in which hundred thousands of people take part in a non-sectarian and

jubilant mood.

從今年的五月開始，出巡節慶將從十二年一度地從 Bungmati 開始。到時，將有隆重的慶祝，

預計會有數十萬人參與這部分宗派的歡騰節慶。

Slide 21

Conclusion

•Nepal is a country where there are many festivals both Buddhist and Hindus around the year.

But the Avalokitesvara Chariot festival is by far the most fascinating, longest festival in Nepal

which holds all Nepalese Buddhists in solidarity and exemplifies their utmost devotion to the

Bodhisattva of great compassion, the Great Noble Avalokitesvara.

尼泊爾一年當中有許許多多佛教與印度教節慶的國家，可是惟有觀世音菩薩聖轎的出巡才能算

是尼泊爾歷時最久又最引人入勝的。此慶典團結了尼泊爾所有的佛教徒，來一起至誠朝拜大慈

大悲的觀世音菩薩摩訶薩。

•Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara’s inconceivable deed is to benefit all sentient beings without

discriminating among Buddhists and Hindus. So the most lively and exemplary example of

this peaceful tolerance is that not only Nepalese Buddhists but the Hindus are also devoted to

Avalokitesvara, giving him another name Machhindra Nath and Mim Nath. So due to

Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara’s immeasurable compassion, all Nepalese could live together in

solidarity without a sense of religious persecution at least during this festival.

觀世音菩薩不可思議、利益衆生的修行不分佛教徒或印度教徒，所以張顯了尼泊爾在慶祝此聖

殿是的宗教和諧共處，除了佛教徒，印度教徒也供奉觀世音菩薩，並把他命名為 Machhindra

Nath 及 Mim Nath。因爲觀世音菩薩無量的大悲，所以全體尼泊爾人民可以在無有宗教爭鬥的

氣氛下供同慶祝此節慶。

•Although this is the greatest festival of Nepal, still it is not getting the due attention from the

international arena as it certainly deserves. This festival if internationalized, very unique and

divine in itself, can bring all the people following Buddha’s teachings together while

eliminating the sense of disparity in culture, language indigenous to different countries.

雖然這是尼泊爾最盛大的節慶，可是仍然還沒受到國際各界應有的關注。若此慶典能國際化，

它的獨特性與神聖性必定讓全人類遵循佛陀教法，並溶解各國之間文化及語言上的隔閡。