A photo exhibition featuring a collection of images of the Narsingh Jatra, one of the oldest jatras of the Valley, took place at Swotha in Lalitpur on Tuesday. Organised by the local photography group Memory Zone, the exhibition featured a chronological series of photographs of the jatra with images dating back from 1963 to the present day.

Narsingh Jatra is celebrated every year, five days after the Janai Purnima, to mark the victory of Lord Narsingh over the demon Hiranyakasyapu. The jatra, believed to have been initiated in 1749, starts from Swotha square and makes its round around the core of Patan before returning to the same place. Every year, a member of the Rajopadhaya community takes the role of the masked Narsingh and is accompanied by musicians as he moves from community to community.

“The Narsingh Jatra is a very important and an old tradition of Patan but very few people know about this jatra, even in Patan. We are hosting this exhibit so that we can preserve and promote this tradition.” Aakash Rajopadhaya of Memory Zone said, “We decided to promote it through the medium of pictures because it is visually arresting.”

The locals believe that Lord Narsingh protects worshipers from different natural calamities, diseases and earthquakes. It is also believed that Narsingh Jatra started as a modified version of Gai Jatra in Patan.

Along with the exhibition, the organisers have also announced a Narsingh Jatra Photography Competition for this year’s jatra—which commences from Tuesday evening.