Peacock Window with Cheppu

The Peacock Window is a 15th century window built in Bhaktapur Nepal. Commonly referred to as the "Mona Lisa" of Nepal is it one of the countries most precious art works. It consists several small bird carvings with a large intricately decorated peacock carving in the center with tail feathers that form a lattice window. Among the aquatic animals Chhepu is believed to be the most powerful one. A Chhepu , who is fond of playing in water is marked with the symbol of the moon on its forehead, so that it could fly up high in the sky to the moon. The torans suspended above the doorway of a temple are mostly enshrined with the image of a Chhepu.