Asan (; , ) (alternative names: Asan Tol असन टोल , Asan Twāh असं त्वाः) is a ceremonial, market and residential square in central

Kathmandu Kathmandu () is the capital and largest city of Nepal, situated in the central part of the country within the Kathmandu Valley. As per the 2021 Nepal census, it has a population of 845,767 residing in 105,649 households, with approximately 4 mi ...

, the capital of

Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...

. It is one of the most well-known historical locations in the city and is famed for its bazaar, festival calendar and strategic location. Asan has been described as a fine

Newar Newar (; , endonym: Newa; , Pracalit script: ), or Nepami, are primarily inhabitants in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal and its surrounding areas, and the creators of its historic heritage and civilisation. Page 15. Newars are a distinct linguisti ...

example of a traditional Asian bazaar. The

Tuladhar Tulādhar (Devanagari: तुलाधर) is a Nepali/Nepalese caste from the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. The name Tuladhar is derived from the Sanskrit words "tula" (weighing scale) and "dhar" (possessor), thus meaning scal ...

Maharjan Maharjan (), is one of the Hindu Buddhist Newar castes or groups of Nepal, predominantly from Patan, Kirtipur, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu in Kathmandu Valley.. They are a major subgroup of the Jyapu ज्यापू: community inside the Newar comm ...

Shrestha Śrēṣṭha () is a Nepali surname, which means "most excellent” or "great” in Sanskrit. It is one of the eponym surnames used by those belonging to the caste of Shresthas who own Bogati and Damais and are at the epitome of status prior to ...

Bajracharya A vajrācārya (vajra + acharya, Tibetan: རྡོ་རྗེ་སློབ་དཔོན་, ''dorje lopön'', Wyl. ''rdo rje slob dpon,'' Chinese: 金剛阿闍梨, pinyin: ''jīngāng āshélì''; rōmanji: ''kongō ajari'') (alternativel ...

and

Shakya Shakya (Pali, Pāḷi: ; Sanskrit: ) was an ancient Indo-Aryan clan of the northeastern region of South Asia, whose existence is attested during the Iron Age in India, Iron Age. The Shakyas were organised into a Gaṇasaṅgha, (an Aristocrac ...

castes make up most of the population. Six streets converge in Asan, giving the square a perpetual bustle. The bazaar in Asan attracts shoppers from all over Kathmandu because of the tremendous variety of merchandise sold here, ranging from foodstuffs, spices and textiles to electronics and bullion. Asan is also one of the popular tourist spots in the city because of its architectural sights and charming ambience. There are banks, restaurants and a post office. Two taxi stands and bus stops are situated on the eastern side.

History

Asan straddles one of the two legendary

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

Tibet Tibet (; ''Böd''; ), or Greater Tibet, is a region in the western part of East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are other ethnic groups s ...

trade routes that pass through Kathmandu. Because of this history, Asan has been one of the city's main marketplaces since ancient times. The trade route is diagonally aligned, and the section within the city extends from

Kathmandu Durbar Square Kathmandu Durbar Square (Nepal Bhasa: येँ लायकु/𑐥𑐾𑑄 𑐮𑐵𑐫𑐎𑐹, Nepali: हनुमानढोका दरबार; ''Basantapur Durbar Kshetra'') is a historically and culturally significant site in Kathma ...

to Asan and to the northeast.

Highlights

* The temple of Annapurna Ajimā (alternative name: Asanmaru Ajimā असंमरु अजिमा) presides over Asan. She is the goddess of abundant food grain and is the patron deity of the neighborhood. The goddess is represented by a filled grain measure. * A temple of

Ganesh Ganesha or Ganesh (, , ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped Deva (Hinduism), deities in the Hindu deities, Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect. His depictions ...

(alternative name Ganedya गनेद्य:) stands at the northern side of the square. The temple was renovated and its tile roofs were replaced in 1928. Every traditional Newar neighborhood has a Ganesh shrine. * Nyālon (न्यालोहं) meaning "fish stone" is the stone figure of a fish placed on a pedestal at the center of the square. It marks the spot where a fish fell from the sky and is related to the legendary founding of Asan. * A small temple dedicated to the deity Narayan stands at the northwestern side of the square. * Yita Chapā (यिता चपा:) meaning "southern pavilion" is the long building on the southern side. It contains shrine rooms and a hymn hall where locals gather to sing hymns. * Asan Dabu is a stone platform where sacred dances and musical performances are held during festivals. At other times it is covered by shops. * The streets and lanes radiating out from the square contain shrines and sacred courtyards. The Buddhist courtyards of Takse Bāhā, Kwathu Bāhā, Hāku Bāhā, Dhālāsikwa Bāhā, Dagu Bāhā, Asan Bāhā and Hwakhā Bāhā are situated around the perimeter of the square. Each of them contains a decorated shrine house with an image of the Buddha and assorted

stupa In Buddhism, a stupa (, ) is a domed hemispherical structure containing several types of sacred relics, including images, statues, metals, and '' śarīra''—the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns. It is used as a place of pilgrimage and m ...

Festivals

Asan is a cultural and religious center and is the venue for a number of festivals and processions. * Asan: Chālan (असं: चाल the day after VIJAYA DASHAMI) is one of the biggest festivals of Asan, which means the main day of Dashain for the Newar people of Asan (especially Maharjan Community). They celebrate the Tika ceremony and a KUMA NAKIGU (कुम नकेगु) worshiping the selected child as a children of Annapurna Ajimā from Maharjan community of Asan: (असं: िकसन means farmer of asan:). Later at night, The palanquin of Hindu deity Annapurna Ajimā (Annapurna Jatra started) carried from Asan to Thahity, Jyatha, Balkumari and rest at Bhotahity (home of Annapurna Ajimā ) for a whole night. It is held in October. * Annapurna Jatra On the second day of the chariot festival of Annapurna Ajimā, It continued where it rested (Bhotahity). An Idol of the goddess Asanbhalu Annapurna Ajimā, the patron deity of Asan, is placed on a palanquin and carried around town Thaneyā (थनेया:) to Koneyā (कॊनेया:) accompanied by Newar musical bands for a whole day . Then it returns where it belong (Asan). The procession is held in October,. * Dyah Lwākegu (द्य: ल्वाकेगु) is one of the most important festivals of Asan. Three portable shrines containing the images of goddesses from Wotu, Tebahal and Kanga are brought to Asan for a celebration. It takes place on the second day of the

Pahan Charhe Pāhān Charhe (Devanagari: पाहां चह्रे) also known as Pāsā Charhe (पासा चह्रे) is one of the greatest religious festivals of the year in Nepal Mandala. It is celebrated with particular fervor in Kathmandu, ...

(पाहां चह्रे) festival in April. *

Jana Baha Dyah Jatra Jana Bahā Dyaḥ Jātrā () is the chariot procession of Jana Baha Dyah, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, which is held annually in Kathmandu. It begins on the 8th day and ends on the 10th day of the bright fortnight of Chaulā (चौला), th ...

(जनबहाः द्यः जात्रा) is the chariot festival of Aryavalokitesvara (Sacred

Avalokiteśvara In Buddhism, Avalokiteśvara (meaning "the lord who looks down", International Phonetic Alphabet, IPA: ), also known as Lokeśvara ("Lord of the World") and Chenrezig (in Tibetan), is a Bodhisattva#Bhūmis (stages), tenth-level bodhisattva associ ...

), a

Buddhist Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...

deity popularly known as Jana Baha Dyah or White Machhendranath (alternative name: White Karunamaya). Page 5. The chariot makes an overnight halt at Asan from where it is pulled to the next stop at Durbar Square. Devotees light butter lamps all over the square to honor the deity. The procession is held in April. * On the second day of the chariot festival of Kumāri Jātrā, three chariots containing human representation of

Bhairava Bhairava (, ), or Kāla Bhairava, is a Shaivite and Vajrayāna deity worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists. In Shaivism, he is a powerful manifestation, or avatar, of Shiva.Kramrisch, Stella (1994). ''The Presence of Śiva''. Princeton, NJ: P ...

and

Kumari Kumari may refer to: Places * Kumari, Nepal, a town in central Nepal * Kumari (Afyon), a city in Turkey * Kumari (Kutahya), a town in Turkey * Kumari (island), an island in Estonia Religion * Kumari (goddess), in Hinduism * Kaumari, one o ...

are pulled through Asan. The chariot procession is part of

Indra Jatra Indra Jātrā, also known as Yenyā Punhi is the biggest religious street festival in Kathmandu, Nepal. "Ye" means the old Newar people, Newari name for "Kathmandu", "Ya" means “Celebration”, and "Puhni" means full moon so together means the ...

and is known as Thaneyā (थनेया:). It is held in September.

Musical societies

Asan Kisan Bājan Khala () plays devotional music at Asan during festivals such as at Dashain, Bhintuna (mha puja at tihar), Jyapu Diwas (Yo mori Punhi), Jana Baha Dyah Jatra (जनबहाः द्यः जात्रा Chaitya Dashain). Asan Bājan Khala (Tuladhar Community) also plays the music at asan during dashain festival. Its members also make daily pilgrimages to

Swayambhu Svayambhu () is a Sanskrit word that means "self-born", "self-manifested", "self-existing", or "that that is created by its own accord". Various deities and entities featured in Hindu literature and tradition are regarded to be svayambhu, such as ...

in the early morning playing

Gunla Bajan Gunlā Bājan () is Buddhist devotional music played by the Newars of Nepal. "Gunla" is the name of the tenth month in the Nepal Sambat calendar, which corresponds to August in the Gregorian calendar and "bajan" means "music" and "music playin ...

music during the holy month of Gunla (around August). Annapurna Gyānmala Bhajan Khala is the neighborhood society of hymn singers.

Gallery

File:The vegetable market of Kathmandu during lockdown due to COVID 19 pandemic.jpg, The vegetable market of Ason, Kathmandu File:Fruits vendor during COVID 19 pandemic in Ason, Kathmandu.jpg, Fruits vendor in Ason, Kathmandu File:The main street of Ason, Kathmandu during COVID 19 Pandemic.jpg, The main street of Ason, Kathmandu File:Man riding bicycle during the lockdown on the streets of Ason, Nepal.jpg, Man riding bicycle during the lockdown on the streets of Ason, Nepal File:Asan, Kathmandu (northeast view).jpg, Asan from northeast File:Gajhya at Dhalasikwa Baha, Kathmandu..jpg, Carved window, Dhalasikwa Baha File:Gunla bajan 2012.jpg, Gunla Bajan musical band File:Old Kathmandu0760.JPG, Vegetables on sale File:Halimali grain art.jpg, Grain art display File:Tolan hwakha baha.jpg, Tympanum at Hwakha Baha File:Seto Machhindranath0616.JPG, Chariot of Jana Baha Dyah File:Asan house front.jpg, Facade

References