Visual Stories
Indrajatra observed today (In photos)
The traditional festival, Indrajatra, was observed by worshipping the Devraj Indra, the God of rains and good harvest on Monday.Photos by: Anish Regmi & Shaligram Tiwari
The traditional festival, Indrajatra, was observed by worshipping the Devraj Indra, the God of rains and good harvest on Monday.
This festival is celebrated especially in the three districts of the Kathmandu Valley, and Dhulikhel and Dolakha. The annual traditional festival begins on the Bhadra Shukla Chaturdansi of Nepali month, Bhadra. It is an eight-day long festival.
On the day the festival begins, a sacred wooden pole called Lingo with flags on its top is erected at Hanuman Dhoka, a historic palace in Kathmandu. During the festival, chariot procession of living goddess Kumari among other hindu deities and typical cultural songs and dances are performed.
The erected pole with flag is called 'Indradhwojotthan'. On the bottom of the pole, Lord Bhairav is worshipped. The Indrajatra festival is taken as the celebration after conquering the enemies.
The wooden pole is brought by performing rituals from the jungle of Nala in nearby Kavre district. The pole is made holy with various rituals at Bhotahiti, Kathmandu.
When the pole is erected, different cultural dances as Bhakkunach, Mahakalinach, Lakhenach, Dasavatarnach and Pulukisinach are performed in the city.
President Bidya Devi Bhandari among other leaders and dignitaries observed the chariot processions of Shree Kumari, Shree Ganesh and Shree Bhairav from the Gaddi Baithak in Basantapur Durbar Square.