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Nepal's Kathmandu Durbar Square Gets Decked Up For Upcoming Indra Jatra Festival

People walk past the chariots built in front of the Gaddhi Baithak in the premises of the Kathmandu Durbar Square as the nation prepares for the Indra Jatra festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 3, 2025. The fourth day of the waxing moon in the month of Bhadra, according to the lunar calendar, is the Indra Jatra, which is followed for a long time. Devraj Indra, the God of rains and good harvest, is worshipped for eight days, starting with the erection of a sacred wooden pole, ''Lingo,'' at the premises of Kathmandu Durbar Square. The fourth day of the marathon worship festival witnesses singing, mask dance, and rejoicing with other rituals. The procession in Kathmandu Durbar Square has the living goddess Kumari as the center of attraction as Goddess Kumari publicly appears on this particular day. Legends say that the Indra Jatra festival is observed to celebrate the victory of the gods over the demons to release Jayanta, the son of Lord Indra. It is believed that Lord Indra comes to the earth to collect white flowers for his mother but is caught by the locals (The Newars) of the Kathmandu valley and kept bounded. After Lord Indra's mother, Jayanta, comes and discloses his identity, a procession takes place, which continues till now. Indra, the god of rain, is worshipped in this festival primarily celebrated by the Newar communities following both Hinduism and Buddhism. (Photo by Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto)

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