Experience the vibrant cultural and social festival of Kathmandu. Embrace the ethnic and multicultural heritage of Kathmandu. Enjoy Kathmandu Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its cultural significance.” Experience the harmonious blend of Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Witness community collaboration, as people come together to create a grand theatre of celebration featuring music, food, and cultural unity. Join locals in their worship for bountiful harvests and prosperity, and the celebration of reunions of faith and kinship. In the local language, Ye means "Kathmandu" and Ya means "celebration", meaning" celebration inside Kathmandu".  

Indra Jatra-Ye: Ya, Kathmandu's largest religious street festival is a multifaceted celebration with cultural, spiritual, and social significance. This eight-day festive season begins with the erection of the Ya Sin (long log) and continues with various activities until the Ya Sin is taken down on the eighth day of the festival. The streets and temples in the heart of old Kathmandu are adorned with samaya baji, which the locals later consume as a blessing. In the local language, ye means "Kathmandu," and Ya means "celebration" or "celebration in Kathmandu." There are different myths and explanations regarding why Ye: Ya is celebrated. This eight-day festival is marked with fanfare. It includes a chariot procession of the living goddesses Kumari, Ganesh, and Bairav, as well as a masked dance of deities and demons displaying sacred images and representations in honour of Lord Indra, king of heaven. From then on, a gentle morning mist would blanket the Kathmandu Valley during the autumn and winter to ripen the harvest. With such blessing and protection, Kathmandu flourished. 

According to legend, King of Heaven Indra, disguised as a farmer, came to Kathmandu wrapped in a disguising cloud to collect Parijat (Night jasmine) for his mother Basundhara to perform a ritual. But unfortunately, he got caught in the process. Later, locals tied him up in the town Square. At the same time, ‘PuluKisi’/ Tānā Kisi, his Divine elephant, went around the ancient city of Kathmandu in search of his master.  Anxious and worried about her son Indra’s disappearance, whom she had sent to get Parijat for the ritual. She descended to Kathmandu in search of a son.  Quickly, she let everyone know about her son, the white elephant, and herself. With embarrassment, to celebrate the distinguished guest king, and locals of Kathmandu celebrated with songs, dances, feasts, and processions. From that time every year, Kathmandu celebrates Indra Jatra.

Indrajatra visuals