Indra Jatra is one of the biggest Jatra (Festival) of Kathmandu Valley. It is also called Yanya Punhi ( Full moon) This is celebrated both by Buddhist and Hindus. Varieties of cultures and traditions can be seen on this festival. It is also believed that Indra Jatra is a festival of classical dances. Indra Jatra is named after God Indra, the king of heaven.
On the third day of the festival of Indra Jatra, the living goddess Kumari ventures out along with lord Ganesh and lord Bhairav in a chariot in the procession. Kumari, is said to be an incarnation of the goddess Taleju. Chariots of Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairav move around the city for three days.
Kumari : The living Goddes : The festival begins with the erection of Yosin, a ceremonial pole, accompanied by the rare display of the deity Aakash Bhairab, represented by a massive mask spouting beer and liquor. Households throughout Kathmandu display images and sculptures of Indra and Bhairab.
On the first day, a long wooden pole is erected in front of the ancient Royal Palace at Hanuman Dhoka, in order to propitiate Lord Indra, the”god of rain”. To celebrate Indrajatra classical dancers were shows dances wearing different kinds of traditional masks and costumes and go through dancing the different temple and around the courtyard of Hanuman Dhoka.
On the third day of the festival of Indra Jatra, the living goddess Kumari ventures out along with lord Ganesh and lord Bhairav in a chariot in the procession. Kumari, is said to be an incarnation of the goddess Taleju. Chariots of Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairav move around the city for three days. According to Hindu faith Ganesh is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is wife of Lord Shiva. It is believed that Ganesh has the head of an elephant. Bhairav is one of the forms of Lord Shiva.
On this day, previously the king used to pay homage to the Kumari and now the president of Nepal pay homage to Kumari the living Goddeses.
Dus Avatar : This is a festival which is celebrate at night in a time of Indra Jatra. Dus Avatars which is a show of a ten incarnations of God Lord Vishnu. Which is staged in Kathmandu Durbar Square, in the neighborhood of the Kumari Temple. ‘Dasha Avataras‘ are also enacted by the artists. In this occasion there intriguing dances of Masks God and Goddeses
Majipa Lakhe dance is one of the main attractions of the jatra. Majipa Lakhey is considered as the calm Bhairabh It is a beliefs that the Bhairab protects the children from evils and demons. In this occation Lakhenani (Guthi) organises the dance which takes place for a week. Majipa Lakhey one of the most popular symbol of Nepalese culture and religion.
Pulu Kisi is believed to be the carrier of Indra himself. Pulu Kisi goes through the streets of the ancient city Kathmandu in searched for his imprisoned master. Pulu Kisi comes with the team of cusical band and go around the street doing naughty and mischievous things by running swinging its tail in an amazing manner which makes people excited and laugh.
Yomari Punhi - one of the popular Newar festivals is observed every year during the full moon of December.A yomari is a food item which is a mixture of new harvest rice-flour dough shaped like fig and filled with brown cane sugar called Chaku and sesame seeds, which is prepared by steamed. This delicacy is the chief item on the menu during the post-harvest celebration of Yomari Punhi. On this Yamari Puni, people of the Kathmandu Valley offer worship to Annapurna, the goddess of grains, for the rice harvest. Groups of kids go neighborhood door to door to beg yomari by singing in the evening to mark the festival. The delicacy plays a very important role in Newar society. According to some, the triangular shape of the yomari is symbolical representation of one half of shadkona, the symbol of Saraswati and wisdom.
