Indrajatra

The festival of Indrajatra is exclusively dedicated to the Hindu God Indra – the king of heaven. There are several foci of this festival.  On the night when this festival begins, members of the family in which death has taken place within one year go round the town limits of Kathmandu burning incense and putting lamps along the route.  The same morning a tall wooden pole representing the standard of Indra, is erected in front of the Hanuman Dhoka Palace.  Wooden statutes of Indra and large wooden masks of Bhairab are put on display in the old bazaar.  Several groups of religious dance like the Devinach, Majipat Lakhe, Bhairav and Bhakku and Mahakaii Nach come into life during this week.  The week also commences the dragging of chariots of Ganesh, Bhairav and Living Goddess Kumari in Kathmandu.  Previously the occasion used to be graced by His Majesty the King and the Royal family of Nepal who would come to pay homage to Kumari just before the start of the chariot-pulling. This tradition has now however been replaced after the recent political changes in the country and the occasion is now being graced by the President.


Indra Jatra is indeed a very interesting gala festival lasting for a whole week where thousands of people flock wearing colorful attire and masks and witness the chariot of Goddess Kumari, Lord Ganesh and Lord Bhairab being pulled through the oldest parts of the Kathmandu city.

Glance of Nepal