Monday, March 1, 2010

Indra Jatra

Indra Jatra is a festival of marked dances and chariot processions. It's celebrated in the Kathmandu valley. It runs for the whole week. It falls in September. This exciting festival hails the conclusion of the monsoon season while honoring Indra, lord of the heavens. It is an exotic festival which offers the visitors a magical opportunity to witness (see) many aspects of Newar
Centering around Durbar square, the festival begins with the erecting of an enormous pine pole, known as the Yosin. Masks and sacred images of the deities, especially Indra and the wrathful Lord Bhairab, are placed on decorated platforms so that the gods can watch the festivities along with the townspeople.
The whole valley is enchanted with the air of the festival. The masked dancers embody the divinities and recount their stories. Mythical tales ate made by storytellers and folk drama groups. A procession of mourners moves through the streets carrying incense.They light oil lamps to illuminate the temples and cast their mystical shadows across the images of the gods.
On the third day, silence falls over the Durbar Square as an aura of expectancy surrounds the spectators. This is the day of Goddess Kumari's chariot procession through Kathmandu. It continues through different parts of the city for the next two days. When the festivities finally come to an end, the Yosin is ceremoniously lowered and removed to the sacred Bagmati river.
cultural and religious heritage. Spectators will see exciting performances by sacred masked dancers and dramatic presentations of mythological events.

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