The lively and most awaited Indra Jatra festival in the Kathmandu Valley has begun today. The festival is also known as Yenya Punhi features colorful parades, religious rites, and different traditional dances among the Newar culture.
Indra Jatra, a major cultural and religious festivitie, honors the god of rain, Indra. It is to show our gratitude for his role in ensuring a successful harvest and the blessing of the Kathmandu Valley with prosperity. Indra Jatra was first celebrated by King Gunkaamdave to commemorate the founding of Kathmandu city in the 10th century. It blends religious devotion, cultural celebration, and agricultural significance, making it an important event in Nepal’s culture.
The festival starts with placing a wooden log, Indra dwaja, in front of Hanuman Dhoka in Basantapur Durbar Square. It marks the formal start of the eight-day event. Throughout this time, many dances and devotional ceremonies are done in honor of different gods and goddesses. One of the festival’s highlights is a parade of chariots bearing the deities Ganesha, Bhairav, and the living goddess Kumari through Kathmandu’s streets.
Indra Jatra is held in different parts of the Valley, including Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Dhulikhel, and Dolakha. Each region adds its uniqueness to the celebrations. The spirit of cooperation and dedication is obvious as hundreds of devotees perform rituals and pay their respects to the deities.
This year’s main event will take place on Tuesday, September 17, with huge chariot processions. The Head of State and other leaders will attend the celebration in Basantapur Durbar Square. It will be packed with cultural performances and ceremonial events. To celebrate the anniversary, the government has declared a public holiday in Kathmandu Valley on 17 September, Tuesday.
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Image source: https://www.nepalsanctuarytreks.com/indra-jatra/
