Indrajatra festival from today

The Indrajatra festival has started from today (Bhadra Shukla Chaturdashi) by performing rites in front of the Kalbhairabh statue at Hanumandhoka in praise of Lord Indra, the God of rain and productivity. The festival will be celebrated by organising various religious ceremonies over a period of one week.

On the occasion, the chariot of the Living Goddess Kumari along with Sri Ganesh and Sri Bhairav are taken out at Basantapur Durbar Square of Kathmandu. The tradition of taking out the chariot of the Living Goddess Kumari dates back to the last Malla King of the Kathmandu valley 250 years ago.

Similarly, devotees light lamps and dance all through the night at Indrasthan of Dahachowk in the western suburb of Kathmandu and also take a holy dip at Indra Daha (pond).

Chariot pulling and puja (worship) of Lord Indra as well as enactment of 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu - in front of Kumarighar - are also carried out for eight days.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, in his capacity of the de-facto head of state, is attending the chariot procession organised on the occasion of Indrajatra festival at Hanumandhoka today, against the tradition of the country’s monarch gracing it. Last year King Gyanendra and Queen Komal had attended the chariot procession with nobody from the Koirala cabinet showing up to welcome them. There were some fracas during the ceremony when a group of about 300 people chanted slogans in support of the King and monarchy while another group tried to wave black flags to the royal couple but was dispersed after police intervened. nepalnews.com ag Sep 25 07