Indra Jatra Festival The Festival of Classical Dances

Indra Jatra Festival

The Festival of Classical Dances

Hindus and Buddhists, both communities come together to celebrate the festival of Indra Jatra. Indra Jatra is a delightful festival of classical dances. Numerous varieties of traditional dances can be observed on the occasion this festival. Name of the festival goes after Lord Indra who is the god of rain and also as the king of heaven according to Hindu mythology.

Fast Facts

Month	August/September
Reason of Celebration	To appease Hindu god Indra
Period of Celebration	8 days
Famous For	Classical and masked dances perfomed
Special Events	Procession of Living Goddess Mahakali and Mahalaxmi with Dasha Avatara

Celebration
Given below is information regarding what rituals take place on each of the day.

Day 1-2
A long wooden pole is placed in front of the Royal Palace at Hanuman Dhoka, in order to propitiate Lord Indra. Classical dancers also gather at the spot, wearing different kinds of traditional attires. They dance around the courtyard of Hanuman Dhoka to celebrate God Indra's arrival.

Day 3-6
On the third day of the festival of Indra Jatra, the living goddess Kumari ventures out in a chariot in the procession. Kumari, is said to be an incarnation of the goddess Taleju. Chariots of Kumari, Ganesha and Bhairav move around the city for three days. According to Hindu faith Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. He is believed has the head of an elephant. Bhairav is one of the forms of Lord Shiva.

Day 7
The King of Nepal, the only Hindu monarch in the world, also pays homage to the Kumari during this period. Intriguing dances are staged in Kathmandu Durbar Square, in the neighborhood of the Kumari Temple. 'Dasha Avataras' are also enacted by the artists. The 'Dasha Avataras' refer to the ten incarnations of Hindu Lord Vishnu who is one of the Hindus' Holy trinity, the supreme powers.

Comments

Paragliding Soar High...

Paragliding Soar High... Paragliding in Nepal is the dream of every adventure seeker. Relatively a new adventure sport in Nepal, it is highly liked among the lovers of adventure. Soaring high in the air above the snow-carpeted mountains is an exhilirating experience. You view some of the best scenes on the earth, from the sky. You share space with the creatures of the air, soaking in the wonderful view of the marvellous Himalayan ranges. We are sure, the feeling you would experience, would be incomparable. Fast Facts Nature of the Sport Weather Dependent Flying Season In Nepal November to February Best Months November and December Tree Line 3,900 m above the sea level Highlights » Nepal is a wonderful place for paragliding. » Paragliding or powered paragliding is undertaken in Nepal mostly in Annapurna range, more specifically the Pokhara Valley. » Paragliding in the Pokhara Valley gives munforgettable views of the world's 8000m peaks. » Several training schools in Nepa...

Changu Narayan Temple

Changu Narayan Temple The Essence of Kathmandu Valley Changu Narayan Temple, the oldest temple in Kathmandu valley came in existence in 4th century. The temple is adorned by some of the best specimen of stone, wood, and metal craft in the valley. The temple stands as the epitome of culture, religion, history and faith of the Kathmandu valley. Fast Facts Location 22 km from Kathmandu Importance Oldest temple in Kathmandu valley Built in 4th century A.D. Devoted to Hindu Lord Shiva Major Attraction Vishnu image with ten heads and ten arms Historical Importance It is the oldest temple in Kathmandu valley. A Vishnu idol with ten heads and ten arms is a fine example of stone carving from the 5th century. The temple is of great importance due to its idols and shrines having rich architectural beauty. Places To Be Seen Garuda Narayana Temple Shrine of King Bhupalendra Malla and his mother Krishna Shrine Nateshvara Shrine Sculpture of Sri Mahadev Sculpture o...

Nepalgunj Travel The Industrial and Transport Hub

Nepalgunj Travel The Industrial and Transport Hub The Western border town of Nepal, Nepalgunj is famous for the exciting treks to the Dopolo plateau and Jumla region. Known as the industrial and transport hub of the country, Nepalgunj has various attractions: Gharbaritole, Ganeshpur and Sadar Line to name a few. The border crossing, 6 km south of Nepalganj, is one of a limited number of places where non-Indian foreigners are allowed to cross the border with India. Fast Facts Location Far West Nepal, Banke region of Terai Population 60,000 people Native Language Awadhi, Nepali And Tharu Tourism Language English Temperature Max: 36°C & Min: 6°C Nearby Cities Kathmandu (531 kms) Major Tourist Attractions The multi lingual and multi ethnic city of Nepalgunj welcomes visitors to explore the other side of this industrial city. Nepalgunj offers a relaxing atmosphere to the tourists heading toward other destinations in Nepal. The following the main attractions of Nepalgunj. »...

About Nepal

Search This Blog