KATHMANDU: A fair is taking place at Indradaha of Chandragiri Municipality-1 to the northwest of the federal capital today on the occasion of Bhadra Shukla Purnima or the full moon in the Nepali month of Bhadau as per the lunar calendar.

There is a tradition of the devotees observing the Indrajatra festival spending the night in vigil at Indradaha.

Indra Jatra festival is observed a day before the fair at Indradaha.

The Indra Jatra festival is marked by offering worship to Indra, the Hindu deity of rain and good harvest.

As per this ritual, the devotees had assembled at the Indradaha on Sunday evening itself and lit butter lamps to the memory of their departed ancestors, wishing for eternal peace to the departed souls.

There is a practice of the devotees lighting the butter lamps in the name of the departed souls to take a holy dip in the Indradaha or the pond dedicated to the Indra deity early next morning.

They then pay homage to the god Ganesha, Indra, and other deities. Tens of thousands of devotees visit the Indradaha every year on Bhadra Shukla Purnima in observance of this time-honored ritual.

Mayor of Chandragiri Municipality, Ghanashyam Giri said this religious fair was suspended last year over the risk of COVID-19 but it has been allowed this time by strictly observing the health safety protocols.