"Bisyau" jatra meaning the festival celebrated in the memory of slaying of serpents. In the passage of time the term changed from 'Bisyau' to Bisket jatra. The festival is celebrated at Bhaktapur, a medieval town from 12th century, still maintained in the same manner and only 13km East of Kathmandu. Since the Bisket begins in the last days of the Nepalese year and ends in the beginning days of the New Year it is regarded as the New year festival as well. During the seven days of the festival chariots of God. Bhairava and Goddess Bhadrakali are pulled with lot of merriment within the town limits. At a place called Lyasinkhel a lyasin or a tall pole is erected with two long embroidered cloths hanging from it. These cloths represent two evil serpents who in the past had troubled the royal family by mysteriouly killing every suitor to the princess at night. Ultimately a brave prince with the blessings of Goddess Bhadrakali came along and killed them even as they appeared from th! e nostrils of the sleeping princess and began to enlarge themselves. Thus, to show the townspeople the cause of previuos suitors' death they were hung from the pole and at present the cloths represent them.
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