Indra Jatra
The eight day festivities formally begins on the twelfth day of the waxing moon in September. On the night this festival begins, members of the family in which death has taken place within one year go round the town limits of Kathmandu burning incense and putting lamps along the routes.
In the morning of the first day of the festival priests and the court astrologers direct people to erect a huge tall pole as the symbol of Indra’s standard in front of the Hanuman Dhoka Palace and worshipping it.
Soldiers in ancient times get up and other soldiers are also present on the occasion. As the pole is tugged and pulled, many guns roar in solute music blares and the excitement of the onlookers reaches fever pitch.
Idols of Indra are brought from the temples and placed on high scaffolds. Similarly large wooden marks of Vhairava are displyed. Religious dances like Devinach, performed according to the regilious rituals.
Kumari Jatra
In the same week chariot of Ganesh, Bhairava and living Goddess Kumari are hauled in the streets of Kathmandu. The president of the country paid homage to Kumari just before the start of the Chariot pulling.
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This Article and upcoming posts are extracted from the book, TOURIST INFORMATION DIRECTORY, 1997. by my Late Father Journalist, Sociologist & Anthropologists, Er. Ramesh Chandra Bandhu Bhattarai.
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