Indra Jatra Concludes Amid National Turmoil

Kathmandu – The revered Indra Jatra festival, a centuries-old celebration of culture, devotion, and community in the Kathmandu Valley, has come to a subdued close this year. The Nanichaya, the concluding day of the festival, is scheduled to end on September 11, as the nation reels from the intense unrest following the Gen Z protest against corruption on September 8.

The Indra Jatra Management Committee announced that, in light of the grim situation and the prevailing curfew, only essential customary rituals would be performed. The Yosin (the ceremonial lingo pole) will be taken down at the designated auspicious hour of 10:32 pm, September 11. Unlike in ordinary times, the event will take place quietly, without the grandeur and vibrant crowds that usually define the festival.

Traditionally, on the final day, the chariot is pulled by women through Nardevi, Kilagal, and Indrachowk before reaching Hanumandhoka. There, the head of state (President in contemporary context) receives tika from the Kumari, marking the sacred conclusion of the festival. This year, however, those scenes of jubilation and devotion have been replaced with silence. No cheering, pulling chariots, crowds, no lively processions, only the stripped-down rituals to preserve the essence of tradition while avoiding turmoil.

The Management Committee, in coordination with the Nepali Army, decided on this restrained conclusion to safeguard both heritage and public safety. While the decision reflects responsible awareness of the present crisis, it also leaves a heavy heart among devotees and citizens who regard Indra Jatra as more than a festival, as a living symbol of Kathmandu’s soul.