Gathan Muga

Householders also place
pots of cooed rice at the crossroads as food for the demons.

Gathan-Muga

Gatha-muga (known variously as Gathemangal and Gantakarna) is when evil spirits are banished outside the city limits.

In the Kathmandu Valley, effigies of the Gathan-muga demon are erected at street intersections. A man wearing war-paint goes about begging for money. At the end of the day, the effigy is taken down.

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The painted man is made to sit on it, and the neighborhood kids drag it away to the river. In Bhaktapur, the effigy is burnt in the street.

Householders also place pots of cooed rice at the crossroads as food for the demons. Nails are hammered in to the door lintels because the spooks are supposed to be terrified of iron. It is believed that the nail prevents demons from entering into the house. After the nails are hammered no family members are allowed to enter into the house.

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