Kathmandu — The historic Indra Jatra festival concluded in Kathmandu with the traditional lowering of the sacred Indra Dhwaja (Yosin) pole, marking the official end of the week-long celebration dedicated to Lord Indra, the god of rain.
According to Newar tradition, the lowering of the Indra pole represents the moment when Lord Indra is freed and returns to the heavenly realm after being symbolically held during the festival. The ritual is considered an important closing ceremony, signifying the completion of the religious observances and festivities.
The festival began with the ceremonial raising of the Indra Dhwaja at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, followed by days of chariot processions, masked dances, traditional music and various sacred rituals. Devotees gathered across Kathmandu to participate in celebrations honouring Lord Indra and other deities associated with the festival.
The final celebrations also included the traditional Hathu Hakayegu ritual, where devotees received Chyang, a traditional homemade fermented drink, through the mouth of the sacred Swet Bhairav statue at Hanuman Dhoka. The ritual is one of the unique cultural practices observed during the closing phase of Indra Jatra.
As the sacred pole was lowered, Kathmandu’s historic streets witnessed the completion of one of Nepal’s most significant cultural festivals. The closing rituals reflected the deep connection between faith, mythology, community participation and the centuries-old Newar heritage of the Kathmandu Valley.
Photo: Sunil Sharma
