Indra Jatra (Yenya Punhi) is one of the popular festivals celebrated in Kathmandu. The festival of Indra Jatra is commenced after towering a wooden pole (Lingo) at Hanumandhoka, Darbar Square, Basantapur on the day of Bhadra Shukla Dwadasi according to religious rituals. This wooden pole (Lingo) is 36 feet long and is specially selected and brought from the Nala forest of Kavre district all the way to Kathmandu and the festival falls in the early or mid of September. Different forms of dancing, singing, chariot procession, and worshipping of gods and goddesses mark the festival of Indra Jatra and the festival is celebrated for eight consecutive days.
Indra Jatra is celebrated to worship Indra, the King of Heaven, and Lord of Rain and Fertility by Hindus. It is a major traditional festival for the Newari community and in Newar, Indra Jatra is also called Yenya Punhi.
Numerous individuals accumulate to transcending a wooden pole (Lingo), the raising function or opening of the Indrajatra celebration. After installing a wooden pole (Lingo) is then known as, “Indradhwajotthan”. Numerous local individuals wearing masks perform diverse kinds of dance moves speaking to divine being goddesses and evil presences. Individuals also show images and models of Indra, Bhairab, and different divinities.
Essential interests of this festival are particular kinds of dances like Majipa Lakhey, Pulukishi (Elephant move), Sawan Bhaku and Chariot of Kumari (Living Goddess), Lord Ganesh, and Bhairab. Other than these, every evening performers move and play out various distinctive music on the open street of the city and people demonstrate various diverse divine of the city.
The chariot procession of Living Goddess of Nepal Kumari, Bhairav, and Ganesh is taken out in this carnival to the meantime in the principal road of Hanumandhoka to thank Indra, the King of Heaven and Lord of Rain.
Then again, there’s a legend saying in the legendary occasions, when the war planning amongst divine beings and evil spirits was going on, the Three Lords (Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwor) sent Lord Indra as an emissary alongside an “Indra Dhwaja” (triumph flag). In the war of divine beings and beasts, the divine beings stood successful and the Indra Dhawja was adored, and the custom as far back as proceeded. With a specific end goal to deliver joy and thriving, Indra Dhwaja is introduced and revered according to the conventional styles.
As it’s an incredible custom, the revering and perception of the festival is done by the President and the Prime Minister of the nation too.
Every year Indra Jatra begins from the day of the Bhadra Dwadasi and ends at Ashwin
Krishna Chaturdasi as per the Nepali calendar.