Indra Jatra
Yanya Punhi or kumari Jatra
ञेया पुन्ही
What is Indra Jatra
Indra is Lord of Rain and the king of Heaven. Jatra is procession. Indra Jatra is celebration of God Indra’s Day. Indra Jatra is festival of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Some believes Indra Jatra is thanking day to lord Indra for the rain. According to others, the festival is celebrated in the honor of Bahirab, who is Shiva's manifestation and is believed to destroy evil.
ईन्द्र जात्रा
When do we celebrate Indra Jatra
Indra Jatra begins every year from the day of the Bhadra Dwadasi to Ashwin Krishna Chaturdasi. It is a eight day long festival. This year it starts from September 08, 2014 and last through September 16, 2014. That is from Bhadra 23 to Bhadra 30, 2071 as per Nepali B.S Calendar. The official calendar day for the festival is on September 08, 2014.
How do we celebrate Indra Jatra
The festival begins with the carnival-like erection of The Linga (Yasingh), a ceremonial pole, accompanied by the rare display of the deity Akash Bhairab, represented by a massive mask spouting Jaad and raksi (Nepali local liquors). Households throughout Kathmandu (especially Newars) display images and sculptures of Indra and Bhairab at this time of year. This thirty-six feet long wooden pole (The Linga (Yasingh)) is chosen with great care from the Nala forest in Kavre district east of Kathmandu.
Indra Jatra:Its Evolution and Interpretation is taken from an Article by By Siddhi B. Ranjitkar from the source
Kathmandumetro.com (Issue 39, September 30, 2007)
Kathmandumetro.com (Issue 39, September 30, 2007)