Kathmandu: Indra Jatra, the festival of rain and good harvest, begins in the Kathmandu Valley. The eight-day festivity, having religious and cultural significance, is observed with much fanfare especially amid the Newar communities in the Kathmandu Valley. It is also marked in districts such as Kavrepalanchowk and Dolakha.
The Indra Jatra, the main day of the festival, falls on the Bhadra Shukla Chathurdashi, the fourth day of the waxing moon in the month of Bhadra as per the lunar calendar. September 28 is the main day of the festival this year.
It begins from Bhadra Shukla Dwadashi and on that day a towering wooden pole (Lingo) signifying the Lord of Rain-Indra- is installed in every town of Bhaktapur city.
According to the tradition, erecting a lingo (a wooden pole) will take place on Tuesday morning at 10:37 AM.
As part of the festival, a lingo is brought from Bhaktapur to Kathmandu and installed on the chariot at Hanumandhoka at Basatapur Durbar Square.
On the first day of Indra Jatra, participants will encircle the city of Kantipuri to pray for the eternal peace of the departed souls. September 28 is the main day of the festival this year. The management team has made arrangement of special security for that day. On that day, 180 volunteers will be mobilised. Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and the municipal police will provide special security.Keeping in view the risk of fire that may erupt during the festival, a fire engine has also been arranged. On Nanicha Ya:, the last day of the festival on October 2, vehicles will be barred on the premises of Hanuman Dhoka, Pyaphal, Naradevi, Kilagh:, Bhedasingh, Bandh (Indra Chowk) and Makhan area.According to the programme schedule, erecting a lingo (a wooden pole) will take place on September 26 at 10:37am. Similarly, on September 27, Rathyatra (chariot pulling procession) will take place after worshipping the living goddess Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairav. Similarly, on October 2, the last day of the festival, the lingo will be taken down at 8:37pm.
President Ramchandra Paudel and several other dignitaries are scheduled to visit Hanumandhoka on September 28 to observe the major celebrations of the festival.