Indra Jatra Festival in Nepal

Indra Jatra is one of the biggest street festivals in Kathmandu valley. It falls in September. Indrajatra festival is the great opportunity to experience a unique culture and tradition of Newari community in Kathmandu valley. This festival witness masked dances of deities and demons, displays of sacred images and tableaus in honor of the deity Indra, the king of heaven. The other event is Kumāri Jatra, the chariot procession of the living goddess Kumari.

Indra Jatra is also known as Yenya in Nepal Bhasa, Ye signifies “Kathmandu” and nya signifies “celebration”, together it means “celebration inside the Kathmandu valley. The celebration is Eight days long; the main venue of Festival is Kathmandu Durbar Square, every year the state’s most powerful person – president come there to initiate the program. This day has officially the government announced the holiday for all Kathmandu valley residence.
Indra Jatra was initiated by King Gunakamadeva to honor Lord Indra, King of Heaven and He is also the god of lightning, thunder, storms, rains.History believes that Indra helped to the founding of the city of Kathmandu in the 10th century. For his contribution, to recall this day Indrajatra celebrates, Later on, Jaya Prakash Malla established a new event that was the chariot procession of the living goddess Kumari in 1756 AD in his era. Along with Ganesh and Bhairab, carrying human representations of the deities with musical bands pulled along the festival.
The main attraction of this festival is Mask Dance including Sawa Bhakku, Devi Pykhan, Majipa Lakhey, white elephant dance, Chariot of Kumari, Lord Ganesh and BhairabIf you are interested in other Nepalese festivals, Himalayn Smile will let you be specific in our especial festival occasion. Do check out our list of festivals in Nepal.
• Tihar
• Holi
• Janai Purnima
• Teej
• Shiva Ratri
• Gaijatra
• Bisket Jatra
• Rice planting
• And others

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