Indra Jatra,the festival of lord Indra and goddess Kumari

Indra Jatra

Living Goddess Kumari

Indra Jatra is the most important and one of the biggest street festivals which is also known as Yenya in the Nepali Language and it is celebrated in Kathmandu. In the Nepali word, Ye means "The Kathmandu valley" and Ya means " The celebration" and together it means " The celebration inside the Kathmandu valley." The celebrations have of two events Indra Jatra and Kumari Jatra. Indra was marked by the masked dances of deities and demons which is the displays of sacred images in honor of the deity Indra (the king of heaven.) and Kumari Jatra is the chariot procession of the living goddess Kumari. This Jatra is the one of the unique festivals of the whole world. This festival is 8 days long and falls on the month of Bhadra(Nepali Calendar) or in September. This festival is the most exciting and revered festival among the Newar community and the Kathmandu valley's people.

Like before this festival was celebrated today(13-Sept-2019) in Kathmandu. This festival begins with the erection of a wooden pole pine at Basantapur durbar square in Kathmandu. For raising the pole hundreds of worshippers gather at palace square and surround the whole area. And then the chariot of Kumari(the living goddess) is taken out in a procession through the main streets of Kathmandu.

The masked dancers are also known as Lakhay is taken to the streets and accompanied by the loud drums. This festival is celebrated to show respect to the king of heaven, Lord Indra. At the night of Indra Jatra, the shrine of the palaces and the temples are aglow with oil wicks(strip). At this night the platform in front of the temple of the living goddess, there is an enactment depicting the Lord Vishnu. In the afternoon near the Hanuman Dhoka Palace for the awaited 'Living Goddess' the chariot procession to catch the face of the little Newari girl who was as Kumari representing the goddess taleju.The chariot of the goddess Kumari is represented by two smaller chariots with the representative Ganesh and Bhairav is taken to the different parts of old Kathmandu streets through the narrow path where many people gather and watch the iconic festival. And at last, this festival ends with lowering the poles bearing the Lord Indra's flag which shows our traditions.