Honoring the spirit of giving

A festival called Pancha Dan, which means ‘Five Offerings’, is celebrated in the Mangal Bazaar area of Patan, Lalitpur, every year which is a testimony to the generosity and compassion of Buddhism. The act of giving is considered a way to accumulate merit and create positive karma. It’s also an opportunity to receive blessings from monks and nuns. The festival is also celebrated in other parts of Kathmandu Valley including the city, Bhaktapur, and Banepa.

Pancha Dan celebration is the act of giving five different things including rice grains, wheat grains, salt, money, and fruits. Communities join hands to provide for those who’ve devoted their lives to religion. Beyond material offerings, Pancha Dan is a time to share knowledge. Elders pass down teachings to the younger ones in the family, fostering interconnectedness.

As the day begins, the surrounding comes alive with melodious chants of Buddhist scriptures and vibrant prayer flags. Younger monks (vhikchu) circle the designated core area of Patan with copper bowls in their hands, receiving the offering from the devotees. Following this ritual, they dine together with their seniors inside a large hall.

Another aspect of the festivities involves the custom of hierarchical seating of grandfathers, referred to as ‘ajus’ in the Newari language. The eldest among them is honored with the title ‘Chakreshwor aju.’ Ajus are placed alternately in combination with people from the Shakya and Bajracharya communities. Devotees also line up to receive blessings from the ajus.