Kartik Naach: An Archaic form of story telling

The Main Crowd Puller
The main crowd puller is on Kartik Krishna Pakshya Trayodashi Tithi, when the Narasimha avatar is staged where Narasimha an incarnation of Lord Bishnu who is part a fiery lion with the body of a human kills the demon Hiranyakashyapu. This particular act carries a message that anyone who tries to do ill and harm others, s/he is punished and no one escapes justice. According to Bhagwat Purana, Hiranyakashyapu was a powerful demon king and had a son Pralhad. The son refused to acknowledge his father as supreme lord of the universe and claimed that Bishnu was all omnipresent and described the benevolence of the deity. The demon king became angry and tried to kill the son. All his efforts went in vain. One evening Hiranyakashyapu asked his son if his god was there in the pillar. Upon hitting the pillar, out came Narasimha, an incarnation of Bishnu, in the form of half-man and half-animal. The deity then killed the demon with his nails keeping him in his lap, standing on the threshold at dusk. 
 

Dubbed the longest Naach (Dance) in the world, “Kartik Naach” has been entertaining the crowds that gather in Kartik Dabali in Patan on the chilly nights of autumn for more than 376 years. Siddhi Narsingh Malla, staged the first ever performance in 1641 AD (1728 B.S). During his era, Kartik Naach lasted for 15 days which was extended to 25 by his son Srinivasa Malla, and to 27 days by his grandson Yog Narendra Malla. But nowadays, due to lack of proper funding, it is performed only for 10 or 12 days according on astronomical charts. 

This dance has faced many hurdles and obstacles. During the revolution of 2007 B.S (1950 AD), the dance was only performed for two days. Before that it was performed for the complete 27 days, and only two acts were shown till 2037 B.S -- the dance of “Barahi and Narasimha.” In 2048 B.S (1990 AD) the dance was lengthened to 8 days with the help of different groups and individuals. In 2070 B.S (2013 AD), two more days were added and again in 2071 B.S (2014AD) it was extended to a 12 days. Even today it faces financial hurdles due to lack of government interest, and the show depends on private donors to stage the dance. 

The main crowd puller is on Kartik Krishna Pakshya Trayodashi Tithi, when the Narasimha avatar is staged. Narasimha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu who has part lion and part human body, kills the demon Hiranyakashyapu. This particular act carries the message that anyone who tries to do ill and harm others, is punished, and no one escapes justice. According to Bhagwat Purana, Hiranyakashyapu was a powerful demon king and had a son Pralhad. The son refused to acknowledge his father as supreme lord of the universe and claimed that Vishnu was all omnipresent, and described the benevolence of the deity. The demon king became angry and tried to kill the son. All his efforts went in vain. One evening Hiranyakashyapu asked his son if his god was there in the pillar. Pralhad answer was affirmative. Upon hitting the pillar, out came Narasimha, an incarnation of Vishnu, in the form of half-man and half-animal. The deity then killed the demon with his nails keeping him in his lap, standing on the threshold, at dusk.