Varaha Avatar in the Kartik Naach
One of the important segments of the Kartik Naach, the Varaha Avatar, was presented yesterday on Dwadashi. The Kartik Naach, based on the incarnations of Vishnu, is performed over ten days.
Legend and Scene
Within the Varaha Avatar, the storyline is set during a sacrifice performed by Indra, king of heaven. The demon Hiranyaksha arrives to disrupt the sacrifice conducted in Vishnu’s name. After the sacrificial rite is broken, Vishnu assumes the Varaha form and fights Hiranyaksha. As defeat looms, Hiranyaksha and his retinue of demons flee.
This avatar depicts the consequences of misusing one’s own power for display, showing that such misuse leads to flight and defeat. The accepted message is a caution against abusing power. Each year, during the Kartik Naach in the Patan Durbar area, the Varaha Avatar includes performances of Krishna and Indra.
Origin and Purpose
The dance is believed to have been initiated in Nepal Sambat 761 (Vikram Samvat 1879) by King Siddhi Narsingh Malla of Lalitpur. It is considered a dance with extended musical expression. Tradition holds that it was begun to avert obstacles in the country and to maintain peace and order—bringing people together in one place to provide religious, moral, social, and political knowledge alongside entertainment.
Ten-Day Performance Sequence
The ten-day presentation includes the following segments in order:
-
Bhakta Surdas Pyakhan
-
Bathas Pyakhan
-
Martial Arts
-
Devi Pyakhan
-
Mahamukha
-
Chwole Khuda Da Khudankola Khicha
-
Jala Shayan (Water Repose)
-
Varaha Avatar
-
Narasimha Avatar
-
Vastraharana Lila
