Himal Press 
Photo: RSS
KATHMANDU: Indra Jatra festival was celebrated in Kathmandu on Tuesday with great fanfare and rejoicing.
As part of the festivities, chariots of Kumari (the living goddess), Ganesh and Bhairav were pulled through different streets around Basantapur. President Ram Chandra Paudel and other high-ranking officials visited Basantapur to pay homage to the living goddess Kumari, Ganesh, and Bhairav. Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav and Prime Minister KP Oli, among others, observed the Indra Jatra celebrations from the Gaddi Baithak in Basantapur.
Various deities, along with traditional characters like Pulukisi, Sawa:Bhakku, Mahakali, Majipa Lakhe and Jhyalincha, also joined the procession around the city.
Indra Jatra, which is celebrated to worship Indra – the god of rain and abundance, is also observed in Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Dhulikhel Dolakha, and other places across the country.
The festival begins on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadra (August-September) when the traditional Indradhwoj is erected in front of Hanuman Dhoka following religious rituals. It continues for eight days with various dances, chariot processions, and worship of different deities.
The festival also marks the end of the monsoon season. As per legend, Indra came to earth to steal a special flower and was captured. His mother Dakini came looking for him and promised the locals rain and a good harvest in exchange for his release.
The giant mask of Akash Bhairav is also put on public display during the festival. A huge crowd of revelers assemble in front of the mass to consume sacred liquor offered from the mouth of Akash Bhairav.
