Since early this morning, a large crowd has gathered at Indradaha in Bhaktapur to celebrate the Indra Jatra festival. The festivities began with the procession of the deity’s idol from Indrayani Devghar in Khwopa, Bhaktapur, accompanied by traditional music and fanfare. The idol was ceremonially paraded through half of the country with the chant ‘Vacha Mukegu’ and arrived at Indradaha on Tuesday evening.
The procession, which was kept overnight by the pond and illuminated with oil lamps, has drawn a significant number of devotees for bathing and worship at Indradaha since early this morning. According to cultural expert Professor Purushottam Lochan Shrestha, the festival will continue throughout the day, with the procession concluding in the evening when the idol will be returned to the Devghar.
In Nepal Sambat 218, Indra Dev, known as a powerful prince, had a large pond constructed in the Kathmandu Valley, which came to be known as Indradaha. It is believed that the pond was named Indradaha because it is associated with the bathing of the heavenly king, Indra.
