The traditional Indra Jatra festival has begun in Bhaktapur from today. In various neighborhoods of the city, small wooden poles symbolizing Lord Indra have been erected. These poles are locally known in Nepal Bhasa as Yamwo Dyo.
According to cultural expert Om Dhowbadel, the festival’s origins trace back to a legend involving Lord Indra’s mother, Vasundhara. On the fourth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadra, she needed Parijat flowers to observe a ritual fast and sent her son, Jayanta, to fetch them. While collecting the flowers, Jayanta was captured by demons. A battle ensued between the gods and the demons, which the gods eventually won. Indra Jatra is celebrated to mark this victory and release.
As part of the ritual, Yamwo Dyo poles were erected today in different localities including Itache, Tekhapukhu, Bansh Gopal, Nasamana, Bulucha, Sakotha, Bholachhen, Sujmhari, Khwoma, and Itachhen.
The festival in Bhaktapur will continue for eight days with various cultural and religious observances.
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