Indra Jatra- fantastically celebrated festival

 Indra Jatra- fantastically celebrated festival

Indra Jatra, one of the biggest festivals celebrated in Kathmandu valley, has begun with the erection of a lingo (sacred wooden pole) at Hanumandhoka premises in Basantapur Darbar Square on Saturday morning. For the pole-raising ceremony, hundreds of spectators gather at the Darbar Square and on the surrounding temples. 

 

Linga (wooden Pole) is erected at the premise of Basantapur Darbar Square on the first day of Indra Jatra

 

Kumari, The Living Goddess being carried to the chariot for devotees to worship

“Aju Dya (Akash Bhairav) means the divine ancestor, the sky-god responsible for making seasonal rain is worshiped during Indra Jatra

The most famous dance, and the most intimidating, is the Lakhe dance which is performed on the last day of Indra Jatra.

 

 

 

The eight-day long Indra Jatra festival falls in September and is one of the most exciting and revered festivals of the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley. This also marks the beginning of a month-long festival season of autumn. The chariot of Kumari, the Living Goddess, is taken out in a procession through the main streets of Kathmandu.

Masked dancers known as Lakhay take to the streets almost every evening accompanied by loud drums and traditional Newari music. The festival is celebrated at a time when Indra came down from heaven in human form to look for an herb.

Each night of Indra Jatra the shrines and ancient palace buildings around Kathmandu Durbar Square are found glowing with oil fed lamps. Each night on the platform in front of the temple of the Living Goddess, there is an enactment depicting the ten earthly incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The large image of Akash Bhairab's head is put on display out in the open directly facing his temple at Indra Chowk.

 https://www.spotlightnepal.com/2021/09/18/indra-jatra-festival-2021-importance-and-significance/