Indra Jatra festival commences

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Sept. 16: Indra Jatra (Yenya Puni), one of the biggest festivals of the Kathmandu Valley, officially started with the ceremonial erection of the Indra Dhwaj (Indra's flag) in the Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square on Sunday morning. 

The eight-day-long religious festival began by offering prayers and erecting the pole at the auspicious time of 8.26 am.

The people of the Manadhar community erected the pole at the auspicious time amidst a big gathering of devotees. The Gurju’s platoon, a group of musicians, played musical instruments during the ceremony.  

The idol of Lord Indra has been placed at the bottom of the pole and it will remain there for eight days.  

Classical dancers gathered at the place where the pole was erected, wearing different kinds of traditional masks and costumes. In the evening, Shree Ganesh and Shree Bhairav were brought to Kumari Ghar. Laskus Puja was performed at the main chowk of Hanuman Dhoka. The festival is devoted to the Lord Indra and is marked by singing, mask-dancing and other joyous cultural shows. 

From Sunday onwards, the Majipa Lakhe dance and Pulu Kisi dance are performed in different parts of the city. 

Similarly, the Mahakali dance is performed at Hanuman Dhoka at around 7 pm and the Dasavatar drama is staged at the Dabali in front of Trilokya Mohan Narayan Temple.

A large image of Akash Bhairab’s head is put on display in the open directly facing his temple at Indra Chowk for eight days.  

Swet Bhairav located at Hanuman Dhoka depicts the most dangerous face of Lord Shiva, which is mostly kept hidden inside a wooden curtain throughout the year but has been opened now to celebrate the festival. 

However, vehicular movements were obstructed in and around New Road on Sunday afternoon because of the preparations made for the annual Indra Jatra, leading to a big jam in and around the Tundikhel area.

Many people were heard complaining to the police officers deployed to divert the traffic from entering the Kathmandu Durbar Square area from all directions. They were enraged with the authorities for not informing the diversions early as it was a time of digital age and the local authorities are often active on social media. The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office posted about the obstructions only after 5 pm; until then, thousands had already suffered.