Indra Jatra is an eight-day festival celebrated mainly in Kathmandu Valley. It begins on Yenya Punhi, the full-moon day in the Nepali month of Bhadra, usually in August or September. Its date changes each year because it follows the lunar calendar.
A festival of processions and performances
Indra Jatra honours Indra, a Hindu deity associated with rain, and is one of Kathmandu’s best-known public festivals. The celebrations include traditional music, masked dances and processions through the city. A highlight for many people is the chariot procession of Kumari, the living goddess, alongside other revered figures. The festival is also a time for families and communities to come together.
Food and Newar gatherings
There is no single dish eaten by everyone for Indra Jatra. Food depends on family and local tradition. In Newar households, festive gatherings may include samay baji, a platter centred on beaten rice with assorted accompaniments. It is enjoyed on many occasions, not only during Indra Jatra. Families may serve other traditional dishes according to their own customs.
Why the date changes
Yenya Punhi follows the full moon in Bhadra, so the Gregorian date shifts from year to year. If you are planning to attend, check a Nepali calendar for the date and local programme for that year. Events and routes can vary across the Kathmandu Valley.
A living cultural tradition
Indra Jatra brings together religious observances, music, dance and community life. While the public celebrations are especially associated with Kathmandu, the ways people mark the festival can differ from one neighbourhood and household to another.
In short, Indra Jatra usually falls in August or September and lasts eight days. Its processions and performances are central to the festival, while food is part of the wider family and community gatherings around it.