"King of Heaven"

#12713945

4 September 2025

Soldiers of the Nepal Army pay homage and circumambulate the ceremonial pole, Yonshi or Indra Dhwaj, while playing the trumpet on the first day of the eight-day Indra Jatra festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 4, 2025. The festival begins with the raising of the Yonshi at Hanuman Dhoka and honors Indra, the King of Heaven and Lord of Rains. The Yonshi is ceremonially cut from the Bhaktapur forest for the ritual. Indra Jatra features mask dances such as Dee Pyakhan, Majipa Lakhey, Halchowk Akash Bhairab, Pulukishi, Mahakali Pyakhan, singing, and other ritual performances, and is primarily observed by the Newar community following both Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

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#12713948

4 September 2025

Soldiers of the Gurju Paltan pay homage and circumambulate the ceremonial Yonshi pole while playing the flute in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 4, 2025, during the first day of the eight-day Indra Jatra festival. The Yonshi, ceremonially cut from Bhaktapur forest, is central to the festival honoring Indra, the King of Heaven and Lord of Rains. The event features mask dances including Dee Pyakhan, Majipa Lakhey, Halchowk Akash Bhairab, Pulukishi, Mahakali Pyakhan, singing, and other rituals, observed primarily by the Newar community following Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

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#12713949

4 September 2025

Nepalese devotees pay homage and circumambulate the ceremonial pole, Yonshi or Indra Dhwaj, while performing with traditional instruments on the first day of the eight-day Indra Jatra festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 4, 2025. The festival honors Indra, the King of Heaven and Lord of Rains, beginning with the raising of the ceremonial pole at Hanuman Dhoka. The Yonshi is ceremonially cut from the forest in Bhaktapur for this ritual. Indra Jatra includes mask dances such as Dee Pyakhan, Majipa Lakhey, Halchowk Akash Bhairab, Pulukishi, Mahakali Pyakhan, singing, and other devotional rituals, and is mainly observed by the Newar community following both Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

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#12713950

4 September 2025

A soldier of the Gurju Paltan pays homage and circumambulates the ceremonial Yonshi pole while playing a traditional instrument in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 4, 2025, during the first day of the eight-day Indra Jatra festival. The Yonshi, ceremonially cut from the forest in Bhaktapur, is central to the festival honoring Indra, the King of Heaven and Lord of Rains. The celebrations feature mask dances including Dee Pyakhan, Majipa Lakhey, Halchowk Akash Bhairab, Pulukishi, Mahakali Pyakhan, singing, and other rituals, observed primarily by the Newar community following both Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

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#12713951

4 September 2025

Masked dancers perform the Dee Pyakhan ritual at Kathmandu Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 4, 2025, as a ceremonial pole, Yonshi or Indra Dhwaj, is erected for the eight-day Indra Jatra festival honoring Indra, the King of Heaven and Lord of Rains. The Yonshi, ceremonially cut from the Bhaktapur forest, marks the start of the festival. Indra Jatra is observed by the Newar community following Hindu and Buddhist traditions and features mask dances including Majipa Lakhey, Halchowk Akash Bhairab, Pulukishi, Mahakali Pyakhan, as well as singing and other rituals.

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#12713952

4 September 2025

Masked dancers perform the Dee Pyakhan ritual at Kathmandu Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 4, 2025, as a ceremonial pole, Yonshi or Indra Dhwaj, is erected for the eight-day Indra Jatra festival honoring Indra, the King of Heaven and Lord of Rains. The Yonshi, ceremonially cut from the Bhaktapur forest, marks the start of the festival. Indra Jatra is observed by the Newar community following Hindu and Buddhist traditions and features mask dances including Majipa Lakhey, Halchowk Akash Bhairab, Pulukishi, Mahakali Pyakhan, as well as singing and other rituals.

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#12713953

4 September 2025

Masked dancers perform the Dee Pyakhan ritual at Kathmandu Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 4, 2025, as a ceremonial pole, Yonshi or Indra Dhwaj, is erected for the eight-day Indra Jatra festival honoring Indra, the King of Heaven and Lord of Rains. The Yonshi, ceremonially cut from the Bhaktapur forest, marks the start of the festival. Indra Jatra is observed by the Newar community following Hindu and Buddhist traditions and features mask dances including Majipa Lakhey, Halchowk Akash Bhairab, Pulukishi, Mahakali Pyakhan, as well as singing and other rituals.

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#12713956

4 September 2025

Masked dancers perform the Dee Pyakhan ritual at Kathmandu Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 4, 2025, as a ceremonial pole, Yonshi or Indra Dhwaj, is erected for the eight-day Indra Jatra festival honoring Indra, the King of Heaven and Lord of Rains. The Yonshi, ceremonially cut from the Bhaktapur forest, marks the start of the festival. Indra Jatra is observed by the Newar community following Hindu and Buddhist traditions and features mask dances including Majipa Lakhey, Halchowk Akash Bhairab, Pulukishi, Mahakali Pyakhan, as well as singing and other rituals.

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#12713958

4 September 2025

Masked dancers perform the Dee Pyakhan ritual at Kathmandu Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 4, 2025, as a ceremonial pole, Yonshi or Indra Dhwaj, is erected for the eight-day Indra Jatra festival honoring Indra, the King of Heaven and Lord of Rains. The Yonshi, ceremonially cut from the Bhaktapur forest, marks the start of the festival. Indra Jatra is observed by the Newar community following Hindu and Buddhist traditions and features mask dances including Majipa Lakhey, Halchowk Akash Bhairab, Pulukishi, Mahakali Pyakhan, as well as singing and other rituals.

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#12713959

4 September 2025

Masked dancers perform the Dee Pyakhan ritual at Kathmandu Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 4, 2025, as a ceremonial pole, Yonshi or Indra Dhwaj, is erected for the eight-day Indra Jatra festival honoring Indra, the King of Heaven and Lord of Rains. The Yonshi, ceremonially cut from the Bhaktapur forest, marks the start of the festival. Indra Jatra is observed by the Newar community following Hindu and Buddhist traditions and features mask dances including Majipa Lakhey, Halchowk Akash Bhairab, Pulukishi, Mahakali Pyakhan, as well as singing and other rituals.

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#12713960

4 September 2025

Masked dancers perform the Dee Pyakhan ritual at Kathmandu Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 4, 2025, as a ceremonial pole, Yonshi or Indra Dhwaj, is erected for the eight-day Indra Jatra festival honoring Indra, the King of Heaven and Lord of Rains. The Yonshi, ceremonially cut from the Bhaktapur forest, marks the start of the festival. Indra Jatra is observed by the Newar community following Hindu and Buddhist traditions and features mask dances including Majipa Lakhey, Halchowk Akash Bhairab, Pulukishi, Mahakali Pyakhan, as well as singing and other rituals.

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#12713962

4 September 2025

Nepalese devotees pull and erect a ceremonial pole, Yonshi or Indra Dhwaj, at Hanuman Dhoka on the first day of the eight-day Indra Jatra festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 4, 2025. The Yonshi is cut from the Bhaktapur forest and is traditionally raised to commence the festival honoring Indra, the King of Heaven and Lord of Rains. The celebration, mainly observed by the Newar community, features mask dances such as Dee Pyakhan, Majipa Lakhey, Halchowk Akash Bhairab, Pulukishi, Mahakali Pyakhan, singing, and other religious rituals.

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#12713946

4 September 2025

A Nepal Army soldier pays homage and circumambulates the ceremonial pole, Yonshi or Indra Dhwaj, while playing the trumpet on the first day of the eight-day Indra Jatra festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 4, 2025. The festival begins with the raising of the Yonshi at Hanuman Dhoka and honors Indra, the King of Heaven and Lord of Rains. The Yonshi is ceremonially cut from the Bhaktapur forest for the ritual. Indra Jatra features mask dances such as Dee Pyakhan, Majipa Lakhey, Halchowk Akash Bhairab, Pulukishi, Mahakali Pyakhan, singing, and other ritual performances, and is primarily observed by the Newar community following both Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

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#12713963

4 September 2025

Nepalese devotees pull and erect a ceremonial pole, Yonshi or Indra Dhwaj, at Hanuman Dhoka on the first day of the eight-day Indra Jatra festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 4, 2025. The Yonshi is cut from the Bhaktapur forest and is traditionally raised to commence the festival honoring Indra, the King of Heaven and Lord of Rains. The celebration, mainly observed by the Newar community, features mask dances such as Dee Pyakhan, Majipa Lakhey, Halchowk Akash Bhairab, Pulukishi, Mahakali Pyakhan, singing, and other religious rituals.

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#12708674

2 September 2025

A Khwapa (mask) of Majipa Lakhey, one of the principal dances of the Indra Jatra festival, is seen in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 2, 2025, ahead of the festival. Majipa Lakhey, also called Shanta Bhairab, is a guardian deity in Newar culture and features prominently in traditional performances during the celebrations.

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#12708659

2 September 2025

The chariots of the Living Gods Ganesh (L) and Bhairab are seen during the preparations ahead of the Indra Jatra festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 2, 2025. Ganesh represents blessings, while Bhairab embodies protection and strength, and their processions through the city are central highlights of the celebrations.

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