Foreign guests start arriving to observe Indrajatra

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Sept. 27: In this year’s Indrajatra festival, 423 people, including 20 foreigners, are participating. 

They are coming at the invitation of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC). 

The metropolis has invited 18 heads of the cities with sisterly relations at home and abroad. 

Among them, the heads of some cities from China, the US and Korea have started arriving, according to the KMC.

Mahesh Kafle, the chief of the Information Department of the KMC, said that 17 foreign guests from China, one from the US, and two from South Korea are scheduled to come to Nepal to observe the festival. 

According to the KMC, China is the first country to have such a relationship with Nepal, followed by the US.  

With the aim of promoting the festival at the international level, the KMC has been inviting guests since 2019.

Besides, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Pakhribas Municipality of Koshi Province, Jeetpursimara Sub-Metropolitan Municipality of Madhes Pradesh, Melamchi Municipality of Bagmati, Disyang Rural Municipality of Gandaki, Ramgram Municipality of Lumbini, Chandannath Municipality of Karnali and Amargadhi Municipality of Sudurpaschim Province among the national cities that the metropolis has sister relationship with will come to observe the Jatra.

A programme has been arranged for the guests to observe the Kumari chariot procession, and Hanumadhoka, Swayambhu and Bhaktapur areas. 

The observation of the main procession on September 28 will be followed by a visit to the Bhaktapur Darbar Square on September 29. 

The annual festival of Indrajatra officially started on Tuesday with the erection of a long wooden pole at Hanumandhoka called Indradhwojnthan.  

The eight-day-long religious festival began by offering prayers to the pole at 10: 37 am in the morning. 

The leading figure of the Manadhar community erected the pole at the auspicious time amid the gathering of devotees. Gurujyu Paltan, a group of musicians, played musical instruments during the ceremony.  

On Tuesday, the first day of the festival, people surrounded the city praying for the eternal peace of the departed souls.