"pole swinging"

#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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#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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#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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#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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#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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#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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#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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#12712908

4 September 2025

Nepali Hindu devotees pull a sacred pole locally called ''Ya: Shi,'' marking the formal start of Indra Jatra dedicated to the rain god Indra in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 4, 2025. The festival lasts for eight days with singing, mask dancing, and other rituals. Indra Jatra festival falls on the fourth day of the waxing moon in the month of Bhadra according to the lunar calendar. Legends say that the Indra Jatra festival observes the victory of the gods over the demons to release Jayanta, the son of Lord Indra. Indra, the god of rain, is worshiped in this festival primarily celebrated by the Newar communities following both Hinduism and Buddhism.

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#12712909

4 September 2025

Nepali Hindu devotees pull a sacred pole locally called ''Ya: Shi,'' marking the formal start of Indra Jatra dedicated to the rain god Indra in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 4, 2025. The festival lasts for eight days with singing, mask dancing, and other rituals. Indra Jatra festival falls on the fourth day of the waxing moon in the month of Bhadra according to the lunar calendar. Legends say that the Indra Jatra festival observes the victory of the gods over the demons to release Jayanta, the son of Lord Indra. Indra, the god of rain, is worshiped in this festival primarily celebrated by the Newar communities following both Hinduism and Buddhism.

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