Kathmandu, September 20
Preparations are underway for the annual Indra Jatra festival at Basantapur Durbar Square. Work is currently being carried out to construct chariots and clean the area. Painting and maintenance work is also underway at heritage sites within the Durbar Square complex, including Kasthamandap, Kumari Ghar and the Shiva-Parvati Temple, along with the replacement of the red cloth banner.
Indra Jatra, celebrated primarily by the Newa community, is observed with much fanfare in Kathmandu as well as in Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Dhulikhel, Dolakha and other places.
A ceremonial pole, known as the Indradhwaja, is erected during the festival. The base of the pole is worshipped as Bhairav. Indra Jatra is traditionally celebrated as a festival of victory following the defeat of enemies and is also regarded as a festival of worshipping the Indradhwaja to gain and display strength.
During the festival, the President traditionally observes the chariot procession of Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairav, regarded as living deities, from the Gaddi Baithak at Hanuman Dhoka.
Various traditional dances, including Bhakkunach, Mahakali dance, Lakhe dance, Dashavatar and Pulukisi, representing Indra’s elephant Airavata, are performed throughout the festival.
On the eighth day after the Indradhwaja pole is erected, it is ceremonially brought down on the fourth day of the waning fortnight of Ashwin.
