The Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Bikash Samiti has announced the auspicious dates and times for various rituals of this year’s Indra Jatra festival. The forest journey to cut down the tree for raising the Indra flagpole has been scheduled for 9:53 a.m. on Sunday, Bhadra 28, according to Committee Chairman and Associate Professor Purushottam Bhattarai.
According to the committee, the auspicious time for cutting down the tree in Chittrapol forest of Bhaktapur to make the Indra flagpole has been set for 8:47 p.m. on the same day. Similarly, the auspicious time for bringing the prepared pole into the city has been set for 8:05 a.m. on Saturday, Asoj 3, while the Indradhwajotthan (raising of the flagpole) is scheduled for 7:47 a.m. on Wednesday, Asoj 7.
On the main day of Indra Jatra, Friday, Asoj 9, the chariot procession will be held through the lower section of the city. On the same day, it is customary for the President and other distinguished dignitaries to visit the Gaddi Baithak at Hanuman Dhoka and observe the Kumari procession. The following day, Saturday, Asoj 10, the procession will be held through the upper section. On Tuesday, Asoj 13, women alone will pull the chariots to conclude the ‘Nanicha Jatra.’
On the same day, at 9:25 p.m., the auspicious time has been set for lowering the Indra flagpole. After the flagpole is lowered, the festival will formally conclude that night after the Head of State visits and receives blessings and prasad from Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairav. The Indra Jatra festival lasts for 13 days.
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