KATHMANDU: The Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Development Committee has announced the auspicious dates and timings for this year’s Indra Jatra festival.
The festival begins from the second day of the bright fortnight of Bhadra. According to committee chairperson and Associate Professor Dr Purushottam Bhattarai, the auspicious time for the forest journey to cut the tree for the ceremonial pole of Indra Jatra is 9:53 am on Sunday, September 12.
The tree-cutting ceremony will take place at 8:47 pm. The tree is traditionally cut from the Chittapol forest in Bhaktapur for the ceremonial Indra flagpole. The auspicious time to bring the pole into the city has been set for 8:05 am on Saturday, September 19.
The ceremonial raising of the Indra flagpole will take place at 7:47 am on Wednesday, September 23, Bhattarai said.
The main day of Indra Jatra falls on Friday, September 25, when the chariot procession will be taken through the lower areas of the city.
On the same day, the President and other high-ranking dignitaries traditionally visit the Gaddi Baithak at Hanuman Dhoka to observe the Kumari chariot procession.
The procession through the upper areas will take place on Saturday, September 26.
On Tuesday, September 29, women will exclusively pull the chariot during the Nanicha procession. The ceremonial Indra flagpole will be lowered at 9:25 pm the same day.
The 13-day Indra Jatra festival will conclude after the pole is lowered, followed by the head of state’s visit to receive blessings and offerings from Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairav.
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