Indra Jatra

Origins and history

King Gunakamadeva started this festival in the tenth century to mark the founding of Kathmandu city. It has grown into the largest religious street festival in the region. The Kumari Jatra part began later in the mid-eighteenth century under King Jaya Prakash Malla. The dates change every year because they follow the lunar Nepal Era calendar. The celebration lasts for eight days, starting on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight and ending on the fourth day of the dark fortnight.

Ceremonies and processions

The festival begins with the erection of a Yosin pole at Kathmandu Durbar Square. Men drag this bark-stripped tree from a nearby forest through the streets. Participants also perform Upaku Wanegu, offering butter lamps to honor family members who died in the past year. A key event is the Kumari Jatra, where three large chariots carrying representations of deities are pulled through the city over three days. Women now pull one of these chariots on the final day.

Dances and masks

Masked dancers perform throughout the eight days to entertain crowds and control them before chariot parades. Pulu Kisi, believed to carry Indra, runs through streets knocking into people playfully. Majipā Lākhey, a demon figure, performs agile movements in market squares. Other groups include Sawa Bhakku, who wear blue and red masks, and Dee Pyākhan, which features various gods and goddesses. These performances create a festive mood across the historic city.

Local variations

While Kathmandu hosts the main events, other cities observe their own versions. In Bhaktapur, the focus shifts to Yama Dyaḥ, poles representing the deity of death, which are worshipped for protection. Locals also carry Yamata sky lamps made of bamboo. One day features Indrayani Jātrā, where her image is carried to a historic pond for illumination with oil lamps. Patan and Khokana also hold smaller ceremonies with unique local customs and processions.

How Indra Jatra is kept

People in the Kathmandu Valley participate by watching and joining processions. The festival starts with dragging a sacred pole to Durbar Square. Families offer butter lamps to remember the dead. Three large chariots are pulled through the streets by musicians and participants. Masked dancers perform in squares and alleys, interacting with the crowd. In Bhaktapur, locals erect different poles and carry sky lamps. The events continue for eight days, moving through specific routes in each city.

When and where

It falls annually during the eleventh month of the Nepal Sambat calendar. The exact dates shift each year based on the lunar cycle. The festival spans eight days, beginning on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight and concluding on the fourth day of the dark fortnight.

The main site is Kathmandu Durbar Square in Nepal. The festival is unique to the Kathmandu Valley. It is also observed in Bhaktapur and Patan, though with distinct local traditions. Smaller ceremonies occur in places like Khokana.

What Indra Jatra means

The festival thanks Indra for rain and a successful harvest. It marks the start of two great Hindu festivals. The butter lamps honor ancestors and show respect to relatives. The Yosin pole represents Indra's banner. The chariots carry divine figures through the community. The dances bring joy and help manage crowds during the busy celebrations.

Questions people ask about Indra Jatra

See also

DiwaliA five-day festival of lights celebrated across India and its diaspora to mark the victory of light over darkness.HoliA spring festival of colours and bonfires that marks the end of winter and the triumph of good over evil.NavaratriA nine-night Hindu festival honoring the goddess Durga and her nine forms through prayer, fasting, and dance.Buddha's BirthdayA festival marking the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, observed across Asia with temple rituals and community gatherings.

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle

• Indra Jatra on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.