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Nepal celebrates Indrajatra festival

     Kathmandu: Nepal's Hindu and Buddhist communities are celebrating the Indrajatra festival with great enthusiasm today. The Indrajatra Festival involves the worship of Lord Indra, the God of Rain and Productivity. The festival continues for eight days. On the first day, a wooden pole is erected in front of the ancient Royal Palace at Hanuman Dhoka, in order to propitiate Lord Indra. Classical dancers also assemble at the spot wearing different kinds of masks and dancing around the courtyard of Hanuman Dhoka to celebrate Indra's visit. On this occasion, the chariot of the "Living Goddess" Kumari along with Lord Ganesh and Bhairav are exhibited at Basantapur of Kathmandu. The festival's many other interesting dances include the Mahakali, the Mahalaxmi, and the Dasha Avatara masked dances. They are staged on the plinth of the Narayan temple, just opposite the Kumari temple. On the last day of the festival, the wooden pole erected on the first day is lowered amid religious ceremonies and animal sacrifices.
-Sept 6, 2006