Kathmandu, Sept 24 – President Bidya Devi Bhandari reached the Basantapur Durbar Square on Monday and attended the celebration of Indra Jatra festival marked by worshiping the Living Goddess, Kumari.
President Bhandari offered bheti to Lord Ganesh and Lord Bhairav as well. Then, she received prasad from the priest. On the occasion, the President observed different traditional cultural pageants and dances.
Acting Prime Minister Ishwar Pokharel, Chief Justice Om Prakash Mishra, Chairman of the National Assembly Ganesh Timilsina, chiefs of the constitutional bodies, security chiefs, representatives of the diplomatic missions in Nepal and commoners also attended the ceremony.
Chariot procession is one of the main attractions during the Indra Jatra festival. The god of rains and good harvest Indra is worshiped on this occasion. The festival falls on the Bhadra Shukla Chaturdashi as per Hindu lunar calendar. The festival marked for eight days is also celebrated in Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Dhulikhel and Dolakha.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has expressed his best wishes to all Nepalis at home and abroad on the occasion of Indra Jatra. In a message today, the PM said that continued existence of such festivals that began based on a particular incident was a matter of profound happiness adding that the government was positive in preservation and promotion of such cultural festivals.
Saying that the festivals observed by the people from diverse communities, regions and geography have united Nepalis in a thread of unity, he added that Nepalis have given the message that they are united in religious, cultural and other aspects too. “This is the matter of pride for us,” PM Oli stated.
Likewise, the PM has said that such festivals should be linked to tourism since the festivals could be crucial to lure the international tourists.
