Yenyā Punhi (Indra Jatra)

Indra Jātrā (Nepal Bhasa: 𑐂𑐣𑑂𑐡𑑂𑐬 𑐖𑐵𑐟𑑂𑐬𑐵), also known as Yenyā Punhi (Nepal Bhasa: 𑐫𑐾𑑃𑐫𑐵𑑅 𑐥𑐸𑐴𑑂𑐣𑐶), is the biggest religious street festival in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The celebrations consist of two events, Indra Jātrā and Kumāri Jātrā. Indra Jātrā is marked by masked dances of deities and demons, displays of sacred images, and tableaus in honor of the deity Indra, the king of heaven. Kumāri Jātrā is the chariot procession of the living goddess Kumari. The festival is also observed in other cities of the Kathmandu Valley, including Bhaktapur[1][2] and Patan, although the traditions, rituals, processions, and local customs differ from those of Kathmandu. In Bhaktapur, the festival has its own distinctive traditions and is locally observed as part of the city's broader cycle of annual religious festivals. A smaller Yenya Punhi festival is held in Khokana, where a ceremonial pole is erected and statues of Indra as Khun Dhyo.[3] The festival is celebrated during Yenla (येँला), the eleventh month of the Nepal Sambat calendar. In Nepal Bhasa, the full-moon day is known as Punhi (पुन्हि). The full moon of Yenla is therefore called Yenya Punhi (येँयाः पुन्हि), literally referring to the full-moon day (Punhi) of Yenla. The name Yenya is derived from Yenla, the month during which the festival is celebrated. Family members deceased in the past year are also remembered during the festival. The main venue of the festival is Kathmandu Durbar Square. The celebrations last for eight days from the 12th day of the bright fortnight to the 4th day of the dark fortnight of Yanlā (ञला), the eleventh month in the lunar Nepal Era calendar. Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indra_Jatra

Curated by Monish Singh