Indra Jatra will strengthen social unity: President

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Sept. 28: President Ramchandra Paudel has extended best wishes to all Nepalis living in Nepal and abroad on the occasion of Kumari and Indra Jatra on Thursday. Kumari Jatra is part of the larger festival of Indra Jatra or Yenya celebrated for eight lunar days in the bright fortnight of the Nepali month of Bhadra.

Issuing a message, President Paudel hoped that cultural and historical festivals like Indra Jatra would strengthen national unity and harmony among Nepalis belonging to various ethnicities, linguistic communities, cultural backgrounds and geographic regions.

The President also noted that the festival, celebrated with great excitement and enthusiasm in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kavre and Dolakha districts highlights the connection between human life and nature and wished that Indra Jatra would inspire everyone to work for social justice and economic prosperity through balanced and sustainable utilisation of natural resources.

Meanwhile, in a separate message, Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav called Indra Jatra and the worship of Kumari a unique festival not found anywhere else in the world. 

Various dances and ceremonies performed on the occasion help keep our religion and culture vibrant, he said, adding that the coming together of various castes and communities of Kathmandu to celebrate Indra Jatra in a grand manner helps preserve our identity.

While Kathmandu celebrates Indra Jatra, the Vice President shared that people in  the Tarai celebrate Anawat (Ananta Chaturdashi) from the fourth day of the Nepali month of Bhadra by worshipping Goddess Laxmi and Lord Bishnu.

He noted that despite differences in customs and traditions, all festivals promoted tolerance, mutual harmony, trust and fraternity.