Indra Jatra is a festival is biggest street festival celebrate in Kathmandu. This festival is known as Yenya Punhi or Kumari Jatra. Kumari Jatra is a festival celebrates since period of King Gunakamadeva. The festival is celebrate for 8 days in Kathmandu. The word Yenya means celebration in Kathmandu where, ‘ye’ means Kathmandu and ‘ya’ means celebration.
What is Indra Jatra?
Indra refers to the King of Heaven. He is referr as the Lord of Rain. Indra Jatra is a festival to celebrate Indra’s day. People believe that this festival is celebrate to thank Lord Indra for rain, and to praise for deceiving the evil. Kumari Jatra is the chariot procession. Kumari is the living Goddess of country. It is a festival marke by masked dance and demons. Kumari Jatra began in id of 18th century.
When & How do we Celebrate Indra Jatra?
Indra Jatra is celebrate every year in Nepal. This festival long lasts for eight days. The Jatra begins from Bhadra Duwadasi to Asojh Krishna chaturdashi. The festival is mark in yearly calendar per Nepali B.S. calendar. The official calendar day for festival is on September, 13 2019.
The festival is celebrate by erecting the Linga (Yasingh) which a ceremonial pole. Aakash Bhairab statue, of Hanuman dhoka represent by a massive mask spouts around Jaad and Raksi (Nepali Local Liquors). This Yasingh pole is 36 feet wooden pole. The pole make for this Yasingh is chose from the Nala Forest in Kavre district each year. It is believe that, Lord Vishnu give this flag to Lord Indra for protection. And, finally the kumari is take out in ‘Rath’ in street and leads to procession to thank Lord Indra for rain. In this festival, people visits shrines holding the lamp of oil to honor the died member of their families. The procession starts from 3pm/4pm.
Procession
Kumari Jatra
Kumari Jatra is the festival of Kumari ‘the living goddess’. The festival is celebrate during reign of Jaya Prakash Malla in 1756 A.D. In this festival, three chariots are carriy on arms. The three chariots consist of three deities of human representation on each. They represent Ganesh, Bhairava and Kumari. The three chariots are accompanied by musical bands are pull along Kathmandu on three days. The procession starts around 3 p.m.
On 1st day of Kumari Jatra the chariots are pull to the southern part of town. The first day is known as Kwaneya. The second day is full moon day Yenya Punhi day. Procession on this day is known as Thaneya. The chariots are pulled to northern part of town. And the third day Nanichaya, procession passes through central section of Kaligal. The chariot of kumari is pulled by women team on third day since 2012.
Mata Biye
Mata Biye is the day on Kwaneya, the first day of chariot day. In this festival, Newari family honor their deceased member passed away in past years by offering butter/oil lamps. The procession starts around 6 p.m.
Dagin Process
The festival process starts from Asan to back Durbar Square. This procession is start from the end of town before returning to Maru. The festival is enjoy by a man wearing a mask ‘lakhey’ accompanied by musical bands. This is follow to re enact Indra’s mother, who was going around the town insearch of her son. It is celebrate on day of Kwaneya.
Bau Mata
It starts around 9 p.m. after finishing the Dagin process. This festival is organize by Manandhar caste group. This festival consists of long representation of holy snake make by reeds. A row of lamps are place on it.
Mythology
People believe that, Indra visited the town to pluck white flower (parijat). This flower was ask by his mother for her pooja. Indra came to Kathmandu by appearing in the form of Farmer. People around caught him by appealing him a thief and tied him in Maruhiti where he was plucking flower. The display is make of Maru there in name of Indra.
Later, Indra mother worried and came Kathmandu to search Indra in which Dagin Process is procession in festival. His elephant searched him in the town.
