Indra Jatra
इन्द्रजात्रा
Holiday in Kathmandu ValleyHinduBuddhistNewar
Dates
| 2083 BS | 25 Sep 2026 (9 Asoj 2083 BS) | Official holiday list source |
| 2084 BS | Date to be announced | Date to be announced |
Indra Jātrā (Nepal Bhasa: 𑐂𑐣𑑂𑐡𑑂𑐬 𑐖𑐵𑐟𑑂𑐬𑐵), also known as Yenyā Punhi (Nepal Bhasa: 𑐫𑐾𑑃𑐫𑐵𑑅 𑐥𑐸𑐴𑑂𑐣𑐶), is the largest religious street festival originating in and unique to the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The celebrations consist of two events, Indra Jātrā and Kumāri Jātrā. Indra Jātrā is marked by masked dances of deities and demons, displays of sacred images, and tableaus in honor of the deity Indra, the king of heaven. Kumāri Jātrā is the chariot procession of the living goddess Kumari.
The festival is also observed in other cities of the Kathmandu Valley, including Bhaktapur and Patan, although the traditions, rituals, processions, and local customs differ from those of Kathmandu. In Bhaktapur, the festival has its own distinctive traditions and is locally observed as part of the city's broader cycle of annual religious festivals.
A smaller Yenya Punhi festival is held in Khokana, where a ceremonial pole is erected and statues of Indra as Khun Dhyo.
The festival is celebrated during Yenla (येँला), the eleventh month of the Nepal Sambat calendar. In Nepal Bhasa, the full-moon day is known as Punhi (पुन्हि). The full moon of Yenla is therefore called Yenya Punhi (येँयाः पुन्हि), literally referring to the full-moon day (Punhi) of Yenla. The name Yenya is derived from Yenla, the month during which the festival is celebrated.
Family members deceased in the past year are also remembered during the festival. The main venue of the festival is Kathmandu Durbar Square. The celebrations last for eight days from the 12th day of the bright fortnight to the 4th day of the dark fortnight of Yanlā (ञला), the eleventh month in the lunar Nepal Era calendar.
नेपालीमा
इन्द्रजात्रा काठमाडौँ लगायत ललितपुर, भक्तपुर, धुलिखेल, दोलखा लगायतका स्थानमा वर्षा र सहकालका देवता इन्द्रको पूजा-आराधना गरी परम्परागत रूपमा नेवार समुदायले मनाउने जात्रा हो। यसलाई येँया पुन्हि पनि भनिन्छ। इन्द्रजात्रा काठमाडौँमा मनाइने विविध जात्रामध्येको एउटा रमाइलो महत्त्वपूर्ण जात्रा हो। इन्त्रजात्राको प्रमुख कार्य नै लिंगो (ध्वजा) स्थापना हो। १२औँदेखि १८औँ शताब्दीमा निर्मित थुप्रै मठ मन्दिरले सजिएको हनुमानढोका दरबार क्षेत्र यो जात्राको उद्गम स्थल हो। भाद्र शुक्लपक्ष यँलाथ्व द्वादशीका दिन इन्द्रध्वजोत्थानबाट सुरू भई यँलागाः चौथी अर्थात् इन्द्रध्वज पतनसम्म आठ दिन विभिन्न नाच, गान, रथयात्रा गरी यो जात्रा सम्पन्न गरिन्छ। सनातन धर्मावलम्बीहरूका प्रमुख र प्रचलित चाड दशैं, तिहार र फागुभन्दा पनि इन्द्रजात्रालाई संस्कृतिविदहरूले पुरानो चाड मानेका छन्। इन्द्रजात्रा र लिंगो -ध्वजा) ठड्याउने प्रचलनको सम्बन्धमा वाल्मीकि रामायण, महाभारत, हरिवंश पुराण, कालिका पुराण, देवीपुराण, विष्णु धर्मोत्तर पुराण, बृहत्संहिता र भविष्य पुराणमा विस्तृत वर्णन पाइन्छ ।
Observed by: Nepalis Hindus and Buddhists, Nepal
History
Indra Jatra was started by King Gunakamadeva- (गुणकामदेव) to commemorate the founding of the Kathmandu city in the 10th century. Kumari Jatra began in the mid-18th century. The celebrations are held according to the lunar calendar, so the dates are changeable.
