The historic Astamatrika dance, also known as Gah Pyakhan, concluded this year in Patan, Lalitpur, after an 11-day run that began on Ghatasthapana. Performed with traditional tantric rituals and religious devotion, the dance is considered about 362 years old. Rajendra Shakya, chair of the Astamatrika Dance Management Committee, said the procession was carried out this year as well, following traditional methods and religious faith.
An 11-day tradition in Patan
The Astamatrika dance follows an annual cycle that begins on Ghatasthapana and continues for 11 days. Its conclusion marks the end of this year’s performance, which the committee says was conducted according to established traditional practice. The reports describe the event as both a dance and a procession, with tantric ritual and religious devotion central to its performance. No specific change to the customary format was reported this year.
The duration and starting point give the observance a defined place in the Ghatasthapana period. Rather than a single performance, Gah Pyakhan unfolds across 11 days, bringing the ritual sequence to a close at the end of that period. The available reports do not detail each day’s programme, but they describe this year’s observance as completed in keeping with tradition.
A history dating to the Malla era
The dance is believed to date back to Nepal Sambat 784, during the reign of Malla king Shrinivas Malla. On that basis, it is regarded as roughly 362 years old. The historical account connects the present-day observance in Patan with a tradition associated with the Malla period, although the reports do not provide further detail about its original establishment or how its practices developed over time.
That long history is a central part of the dance’s significance. The age attributed to Gah Pyakhan places it among Patan’s longstanding religious and cultural traditions, while its continued performance links the present observance to the historical account. This year’s completion is the latest reported performance of a custom that continues to be carried out through a combination of ritual practice and dance.
Committee says customary methods were followed
Shakya said the procession was performed this year following traditional methods and religious faith. His statement underscores that the management committee regards continuity in the customary approach as important to the observance. The reports do not identify any departures from those methods or describe particular challenges faced during this year’s event.
The conclusion of the 11-day dance therefore brings this year’s observance to a close while preserving its established association with Ghatasthapana, tantric rituals and religious devotion. Its reported history, reaching back to Nepal Sambat 784 and the reign of Shrinivas Malla, provides the historical context for a tradition still performed in Patan. Further details about individual performances, participants or specific ritual steps were not included in the available reports.
