President Yadav will arrive at 4:30 pm today at Basantapur Durbar Square where he will worship Kumari, the goddess of virgin, before the procession of chariot begins, said our correspondent Pratibha Rawal. [break]
People from all over Nepal who live in Kathmandu have gathered at Hanuman Dhoka and are making a preparation to take a chariot around the town. The chariot will be carried from Basantapur to Jaisideval, Lagan, Bramha Tole, Wangdenarayan, Maru Tole and back to Basantapur today.
As per the schedule, the chariot will be pulled along Basantapur, Ittkha, Nara Devi, Tengal, Baangemudha, Asan, Indrachowk and back to Basantapur tomorrow.
Following a two-day break, the chariot will be taken to Mahankal from Basantapur and then back to Hanumandhoka for conclusion of the festival.
The festival will end once the wooden pole is lowered amidst religious ceremonies, animal sacrifices and ritual gestures.
A myth has it that Indra, lord of heaven, came down to the earth to fetch a rare jasmine flower for the treatment of his dying mother, Dakini. Locals however, caught him in the act of plucking the flower. He was, then, tied to a pole and put in display for public at various places for eight consecutive days.
Later Indra’s mother came down and pleaded for the release of her son. Indra went back with his mother and locals began to celebrate the eight days of Indra’s punishment as Indra Jatra, honoring the king of heaven.
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