The vibrant festival of Indra Jatra is the most searched term for the cultural tour in Kathmandu. Nepal being a multi-ethnic and multicultural country embraces multi-ethnic traditions and celebrates multiple festivals of different castes. The brotherhood and love among multi-culture and traditions are always appreciable in Nepal.
There are lots of festivals celebrated in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. Among them, Indra Jatra is one of the famous festivals. Indra Jatra is the specific festival of the Newar community. However, it attracts the attention of all ethnic people and brings them to Basantapur Durbar Square to watch the procession. The observer can see the procession of Living Goddess Kumari along with Lord Ganesh and Lord Bhairav along with Lord Indra.
The performer of this festival is solely Newars and other ethnic groups are the observer. The celebration is done colorfully. The charming sounds of the beating drums and other traditional instruments provide immense pleasure to every observer. All the observers are enjoying the same music during the festival. The vibrating sound of the musical instruments provides positiveness and natural energy to everyone attending the festival.
About Indra Jatra
This is the greatest festival in Kathmandu valley. Indra is the greatest God in Hindu Festival. Indra means the God of Rain and the lord of heaven whereas Jatra means the procession. The festival has been founded to be celebrated during the Lichhavi Era by king Gunakamdeva, the founder of Kantipur city which is now famous as Kathmandu. This weeklong festival is usually celebrated between August to September for good harvest and rain.
During this occasion, the chariot is pulled for three sequential days. The first day is known as Kwaneya and on this day, the chariot is pulled out and makes its way from Basantapur by following Maru, Jaisadewal, Lagan, and Bhimsensthan and finally ends at Basantapur. The second day is known as Yenha Punhi. During the day, the chariot procession begins from Basantapur by making its way to Pyaphal, Nyata, Tengal, Asan, Indra Chowk, Makhan, and ends at Basantapur again.
The final day is famous as Nanichaya day. During the day, the chariot is pulled by revelers from Basantapur to Pyaphal, Yatkha, Nyata, Kilagal, Bhedsing, Indra chowk, Makhan, and ends at Basantapur.
Mythological beliefs of Indra Jatra
As described in the myth, it is said that the mother of Lord Indra needs a white and enchanting flower which is called Parijat to perform a ritual. To bring a flower for the mother, lord Indra descended to the earth in search of Parijat by impersonating himself as a common man. When he saw a flower and plucked it out some of its petals, the framer saw and captivated him for stealing the flower. The myth behind the Indra Jatra.
Dances in Jatra
When Indra did not return from the earth with the flower, the mother of Lord Indra was worried a lot. Then the Vahan of Indra ‘ Phul Khusi’ descended back to the earth to find his Master. He was also surprised by the narrow alleys of Kathmandu. A few times later in his search, he found Lord Indra.
Then he passed this message to Lord Indra’s mother. She descended back to earth to free her son from the farmer’s punishment. At that time, she excused herself with all the villagers but nobody excuses her. However, villagers said her to take an oath to fulfill their conditions to free Lord Indra.
Then the mother of Lord Indra grew worried as her son delayed his return from Earth, Phul Khusi(Vahan of Indra) descended to find his master. He wandered around the narrow alleys of Kathmandu Valley. During that time, streets are filled with flowers. Peoples and mellow music, after hours of search he found Lord Indra.
He passed this news to Lord Indra’s mother, and she eventually descended back to Earth to free her son. She requested villagers, but they didn’t consider her words. The villagers put forward their conditions to free Lord Indra. As mentioned in the condition, Lord Indra should visit back to Earth every year at the same time and provide enough rainfall for the good production of crops.
Indra’s mother accepted the condition and provides enough rainfall and took Indra with her to heaven. This truly symbolizes that celebrating the Indra Jatra festival means expressing the feeling of gratitude towards Lord Indra and his mother for the timely rainfall, good production, good harvest, and memory of the deceased family members.
When do we celebrate the Indra Jatra Festival?
The biggest festival Indra Jatra is celebrated between August and September. We celebrate this festival for 8 days at Basantapur Durbar Square in Kathmandu. The festival begins every year from the day of Bhadra Dwadasi to Aswin Krishna Chaturdashi. The celebration does not take place on the same day and the dates are changeable because it is held according to the lunar calendar. In 2020, the festivals take place between 30 August to 6th of September. The main attraction will be on 1st September. During the festival, all the farmer’s thanks Lord Indra for the rain and harvest. Even on the same day, they will worship Bhairav, Lord Ganesh, and Kumari (living Goddess).
Festival Celebration in Brief
The festival starts with Yosin Thanegu, the erection of Yasin or Linga, a pole from which the banner of Indra is unfurled, at Basantapur Durbar Square. The pole is erected by shortening and stripping off tree branches. And it is obtained from the forest of Nala, a small town located 29 km east of Kathmandu Valley. The muscles of hundreds are used to place it on the stage of Durbar Square.
First Day
On the beginning day of Indra Jatra, the processor will hold a special flag-raising ceremony. The pole is erected outside of Hanuman Dhoka and it is 10 m high. During the flag-raising ceremony, there will have a big dance. During the dance ceremony, they will show a series of dances including Indra and his captivating scenes. That creates fun for the observer. Also, different animals like buffaloes, goats, and fish are worshiped as Goddesses. At the end of the Indra Jatra, the offerings will be distributed to the crowds. Likewise, Upeku Wanegu is another event on the first day. In the event, they will remember their deceased family members by holding flowers in their hands.
In Between
The procession normally starts at 4 pm and resumes until midnight. People celebrate Indra Jatra in three different sequences. At first, they celebrate Kumar Jatram then Indra Jatra, and finally Bhairav Jatra. During the celebration, they celebrate the flagpole ceremony, blood sacrifice, and displaying the masks of Bhairav. These three sequences formed the big festival and they turned to Basantapur Durbar Square to perform the ceremony. During this time, Basantapur Durbar Square is filled with a huge crowd of people and the processor playing soothing drum beats makes the environment energetic, joyful, and blissful.
Every chariot is decorated with beautiful flowers and lamps. The lamp in the chariot in the evening provides you positive energy of Kumari, Ganesh, and Bhairav. From Basantapur, all three chariots are taken to the inner city of Kathmandu. In the front, people beat drums, perform masked dances and take beautiful flowers in their hands. Besides this, they will also take small lamps and sing hymns while touring the valley. The tour takes the routes toward the historical places of the valley.
Indra Jatra in Kathmandu
The chariot festival ends in three days. The three chariots carried on three different days are the human representation of Ganesh, Bhairav, and Kumari. They take the chariot on the street. The chariot is pulled out by the strong hands of the hundreds of men around the streets towards the historical places of Kathmandu valley with the help of ropes.
During the Indra Jatra Festival
The first day of the festival is Kwaneya. On the first day, the chariot-pulling process starts from Basantapur and ends at Basantapur. It makes a round tour of the historical places of the valley. The chariot takes towards the route of Maru, Chinkanmugal, Jaisidewal, Lagan, Brahma Marga, Wonde, Hyumata, Kohity, Bhimsenthan, Maru, and finally takes back at the same spot- Basantapur. The first day is the most important day of Indra Jatra. During this time, the head of the state come and pay respect to Kumari, the living goddess of Nepal.