Indra Jatra is the most celebrated festival in Kathmandu. This week-long festival is also called 'Yenya Punhi', a full moon day of Kathmandu. Thus, an official holiday is given only for Kathmandu. It is said that the festival was started to make Indra, the king of heaven & controller of rains happy. In ancient time, the mother of the king Indra ordered her son to bring specially-scented flowers since the flowers were not found in gardens of heaven. King Indra had found Parijat flower in Kathmandu valley and tried to steal for his mother. But he was caught and imprisoned by the valley people. When the mother of the king came searching for him, the people were horrified by what they have done. Soon after they released Indra, the valley people initiated the festival to calm his anger. The festival starts with the erection of a long wooden pole in front of the gate of ancient Kathmandu Durbar Square. During the festival, various traditional & ritual dances (e.g. mask dance, elephant dance etc) are performed on the streets of Kathmandu Durbar Square. Procession of special chariot of living goddess 'Kumari' including other chariots of 'Ganesh' & 'Bhairab' also pulled around the proper street of Kathmandu. 'Dus Avatar', ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the drama is performed in front of home of living goddess Kumari. All these activities are performed to celebrate Indra's visit in Kathmandu. Living goddess 'Kumari' is considered to be as an incarnation of the goddess 'Taleju'. Thus, the festival is a complexion of rejoicing, singing, dancing and feasting. Like many other festival, it is also celebrated by both Hindus & Buddhists people of Kathmandu. The festival ended with pulling down the erected long wooden pole in front of the gate of Kathmandu Durbar Square.
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