INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU: Indra Jatra, known as Yenya in Nepal Bhasa, one of the biggest festivals celebrated by the denizens of Kathmandu Valley starts
today.
In the morning, Ya-Sin (Indradhoj Linga), a ceremonial pole brought from Nala Ban of Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur and kept in Bhotahity
for some days was erected in Hanuman Dhoka, Kathmandu
This event formally marks the beginning of the eight-day long festival of Yenya or Indra Jatra.
FILE Photo & Skanda Gautam/THT
The festival
is celebrated to honour Indra, King of Heaven and God of rain and harvest, as per the Hindu mythology.
During the festival, masked dances in
the form of deities and demons are performed among which Majipā Lākhey is the most popular dance form
Similarly, Pulu Kisi (elephant) dance is also performed by the locals of Kilagal Tole who wear a white-coloured elephant structured costume
covering their whole body and embody Lord Indra carrier, the white elephant.
FILE Photo & Skanda Gautam/THT
Similarly, the main attraction
of the festival is a chariot procession in which a chariot of Goddess Kumari and two smaller chariots of Ganesh and Bhairav are pulled along
the main areas of Kathmandu.
FILE & Nepal Living Goddess ‘Kumari& is placed on a chariot during Indra Jatra festival, celebrated to
honour Indra, the King of Heaven and lord of rain and harvest, in Kathmandu, on Monday, September 24, 2018
Photo: Skanda Gautam/THT
The first day of the chariot procession (which falls on September 13 this year) of the Living Goddess Kumari is
called Kwaneyā.Regarded as the main day of the festival, the chariots carrying Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairav are pulled through the
southern part of the town
The heads of the state also visit Hanuman Dhoka to pay their respect to the gods and goddesses
Similarly, during this day, family members of the deceased who passed away in the last one year light small butter lamps along the
In the night, after Kumari returns back from the procession, another procession of Dāgin beings.
The second day of the chariot
procession is called Thaneyā while the third day is known as Nānichāyā.
The final day of the festival falls on September
During this day, the Ya-Sin pole erected at Hanuman Dhoka is taken down in a ceremony known as Ya-Sin Kwathalegu.
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of the biggest festivals of Kathmandu begins appeared first on The Himalayan Times.
