KATHMANDU: The Nepal Panchang Nirnaya Development Committee has announced the auspicious timings for this year’s Indra Jatra festival after consultations with experts in scriptures, astrology and culture.
The schedule has been forwarded to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.
This year, the announcement was transmitted directly by the Committee’s administration as the body has been without office bearers since July 7, according to administrative assistant Khilhari Ghimire.
The festival’s rituals began today with the Ban Yatra (forest procession) at 9:46 am, held annually on the second day of the bright fortnight of the Bhadra month. Later tonight at 9:03 pm, the ceremonial tree for the Indradhvaja (Indra’s banner) pole will be felled. The pole will be carried into the city through Bhotehiti on August 31, following traditional practice.
The Indradhvaja Linga raising ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, September 4 at 10:31 am, in accordance with scripture which prescribes the ritual on the twelfth day of the fortnight.
The main day of Indra Jatra falls on September 4 (Bhadra Shukla Chaturdashi), when the Living Goddess Kumari makes her chariot procession through the lower part of Kathmandu city, attended by the head of state, the prime minister and other dignitaries.
The Upper Town procession will be held on September 7, while the Nanicha Jatra is set for September 11. On the same evening at 10:32 pm, the Indradhvaja pole will be lowered, marking the conclusion of the festival on Ashwin Krishna Chaturthi.
Indra Jatra thus spans 17 days of rituals, processions and cultural festivities, culminating with President Ram Chandra Paudel receiving tika and prasad from the Kumari.
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