With all this rich culture, the people of this beautiful country also holds a strong believe and practices a traditional culture since ages …… a unique culture of healing, or recovering sufferers from different problems, be it the physical, psychic, spiritual which is generally originated from astrological believes with a primitive rituals or so called superstitious methods.

These healers are known as ‘Mata’s’ (Witchdoctors). They claim themselves as bestowed with the tremendous power by the goddesses to heal any sufferers.

Though some so-called modernize individuals have tagged the healing powers of Mata as superstitious practices, it is found that most of the people be it educated or uneducated goes to visit Matas for the best treatment they belief. The role of Mata involves the treatment and therapy of illness that cannot be cured by the scientific medicines and doctors. The practices of Matas are highly popular in the rural areas where there is a shortage and absence of medical supplies and health post due to the poor infrastructure. That doesn’t conclude that there’s no place for Matas in Urban areas of Nepal. The capital of Nepal, Kathmandu with all the modern amenities also holds a lot of Matas in various places.

While reporting this article, a Mata from Chamati, Kathmandu told “astitwa team” that she can’t say anything at present as her Goddess hasn’t allow her to say anything to press/media person for certain time. She told the team members to visit after some days when she will be released by her Goddess from “brata” (fasting in hindu rituals). By that time there were queue of visitors waiting since several hours.

Meera, a visitor from Basundhara, Kathmandu claimed that her twisted lower part of her face was healed instantly with a visit to Mata. At the same time she acclaims that the same problem was not solved with repeated visit to the so-called hi-tech doctors. There were several other similar instances as such like different visitors were there with their different problems. The most interesting and surprising part still is a hidden fact that all of them claim to be completely healed with the mere visit of once or twice with the Mata.

Another Mata known as Ban-Devi-Ban-Jhankri-Devi-Mata from New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, shares her life story with Astitwa team with a hope of being believed by those who thinks her practice of healing as fraudulent. According to her she didn’t know the fact she was Mata since three years. Though she had had various signals/attacks since the age of thirteen years. She claims she doesn’t believe in Mantra-Tantras and Dhami-Jhakris (witch doctors). All kinds of patients such as cardiac, neuro patients, mentally disordered patients and those patients with undiscovered diseases pays visit to her and all of these patients have returned with satisfaction. She believes all these patients were healed by the blessings of Goddesses- Ban Devi, Manakamana, Shova Bhawagati, ShyumbhuNath, Bijeshwori, Gayneshwori and not by me. In return of her service she doesn’t expect much from the visitors. There are no such demands, visitor’s pay as per their wish or what ever they can effort.

Another Mata from Basundhara also couldn’t interact with astitwa team due to her own rituals (which she didn’t explained). There was also a queue of visitors. Interesting part is that, beside patients there were some visitors hoping to get a perfect advice regarding their problems. One lady had lost her money so she was there to find out ‘who stole it?’ or ‘where could it be misplaced?’ Mata told her that it’s not stolen; she has to search it in the Southern side of her room. With a sigh of relief she left Mata’s place.

In conclusion, it’s learned that this so-called Mata’s are not just one who cures the sufferers but are regarded as a councilors too. They have not only healed different problems but also saved so many frustrated, depressed lives by convincing them in different ways from committing suicide or alike. At the same time it’s quite hard to define this Mata’s clearly as some of the mass regards them as supported by a superstitious lot. But for now lets rest and conclude with the hard findings of the Astitwa team from the Mata’s and her followers that it’s simply supported by a strong believe of both towards each other.