KATHMANDU: Indra Jatra, one of the biggest street festivals celebrated in the Kathmandu Valley, has started from Friday.

The  festival begins after a long wooden pole was erected in front of Hanuman Dhoka in Basantapur Durbar Square.

The festival lasts for eight days with singing, mask dancing and rejoicing along with other rituals.

Indra Jatra festival falls on the fourth day of the waxing moon in the month of Bhadra as per the lunar calendar.

The festival is celebrated in the three districts of the Kathmandu Valley and in Kavre and Dolakha also.

Indra, the god of rain, is worshiped in this festival, and chariots of the living goddess Kumari and living gods Ganesha and Bhairava are pulled.

The festival is primarily celebrated by the Newar communities following both Hinduism and Buddhism.

Legends said that the Indra Jatra festival is observed to celebrate the victory of the gods over the demons to release Jayanta, the son of Lord Indra.

The government has announced public holiday in the Valley on Sunday to celebrate the festival.

MORE PHOTOGRAPHS HERE: Indra Jatra through lens