Indra Jatra

ईन्द्र जात्रा  / Indra Jatra / Yanya Punhi (येँयाः पुन्ही) / Kumari Jatra

Indra Jātrā, most commonly known as Yenyā (Nepal Bhasa: येँयाः) is the biggest religious street festival in Kathmandu, Nepal. Ye means “Kathmandu” and Ya means “celebration”, together it means “celebration inside Kathmandu” in Nepal Bhasa. The celebrations consist of two events, Indra Jātrā and Kumāri Jātrā. Indra Jātrā is marked by masked dances of deities and demons, displays of sacred images and tableaus in honor of the deity Indra, the king of heaven. Kumāri Jātrā is the chariot procession of the living goddess Kumari.

Family members deceased in the past year are also remembered during the festival. The main venue of the festivities is Kathmandu Durbar Square. The celebrations last for eight days from the 12th day of the bright fortnight to the 4th day of the dark fortnight of Yanlā (ञला), the eleventh month in the lunar Nepal Era calendar.

Indra Jatra was started by King Gunakamadeva(गुणकामदेव) to commemorate the founding of the Kathmandu city in the 10th century. Kumari Jatra began in the mid-18th century. The celebrations are held according to the lunar calendar, so the dates are changeable. This year (2019), the festival takes place from 10th to 17th of September, and the main day of attraction falling on 13th.

Photo: www.imagepasal.com

Source: wikipedia.org