Kathmandu, Sept 6: The traditional Indra Jatra festival is being celebrated today with worship and rituals dedicated to Lord Indra, the deity of rain and prosperity.
Observed every year on Bhadra Shukla Chaturdashi, the festival is marked in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Dhulikhel, Dolakha and other towns. It begins with the raising of a ceremonial wooden pole, known as Indradhwaj, in front of Hanumandhoka on Bhadra Shukla Dwadashi. The festival then continues for eight days with dances, chariot processions and prayers to different deities.
The ritual of raising the pole, called Indradhwajotthan, includes worship of Bhairav at its base. Traditionally, Indra Jatra is also seen as a celebration of victory after the defeat of enemies, and the worship of Indradhwaj is believed to invoke divine power.
Before the main event, a goat is released into the Chitpol forest of Bhaktapur after tantric rites. On being touched by the goat, a tree is cut down on Bhadra Shukla Dwitiya. The wood is then used for the ceremonial pole, which is kept overnight in Bhotahiti before being prepared into the Indradhwaj on Ekadashi.
One of the main highlights of the day is the procession of Living Goddess Kumari, along with Lord Ganesh and Lord Bhairav. The President now observes the chariot procession at Hanumandhoka’s Gaddi Baithak, a tradition once carried out by the monarch.
Throughout the festival, traditional dances such as Bhakku, Mahakali, Lakhe, Dashavatar and Pulukishi, which symbolizes Indra’s elephant Airawat, are performed in the Kathmandu Valley.
The festival concludes on the eighth day with the ritual of lowering the ceremonial pole, known as Indradhwaj Patan, observed on Ashwin Krishna Chaturthi. According to scriptures, this is performed on the night of Bharani Nakshatra.
At the same time, devotees also gather at Indradaha in Dahachok, west of the Valley, where they stay awake overnight and take a ritual bath on Bhadra Shukla Purnima, which falls on Sunday this year.
Anant Chaturdashi
Bhadra Shukla Chaturdashi is also observed as Anant Chaturdashi, when Lord Vishnu is worshipped as Anantnath. Devotees believe tying a sacred thread after chanting Anant’s mantra on this day brings good fortune for a year.
According to scholars, those who could not perform the Janai (sacred thread) ritual on Shrawan Shukla Purnima can do so on this day. The committee has also stated that fasting for Anant Chaturdashi should be observed today. After celebrating Indra Jatra on Chaturdashi, devotees are required to take a holy bath at Indradaha on Purnima as part of the religious practice.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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