Kathmandu, September 25:

Breaking the age-old tradition, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today attended this year’s Indra Jatra festival and took blessings from the living goddess

Kumari. Ever since the beginning of the tradition, king used to attend the ceremony and take blessing for the throne and nation from Kumari.

The PM visited Hanumandhoka at 3:30 pm and took blessings from the Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairav and watched the procession. Police arrested some six protesters who greeted the PM by waving black flags protesting his presence at the function. Speaker Subas Nembang, chiefs of the security agencies and diplomats accompanied the PM at the function.

Kumari, considered an incarnation of goddess “Taleju”, is taken out in a procession on a chariot every year at Hanumandhoka. Chariots of Kumari, Ganesha and Bhairav were taken out from Basantapur and moved through different parts of Kathmandu. Along with Kumari, the procession of Mahakali, Mahalaxmi and Dasha Avatara masked dances were also staged near the Kumari Temple.

This festival, named after Lord Indra — the God of Rain and also the King of Heaven — is celebrated by both the Buddhists and the Hindus in Nepal, where five Buddhist priests lead the chariot procession.

The crowd assembled at the Hanumandhoka area pulled the chariot and observed the dances. Foreigners also watched the event excitedly.

Cultural expert Satya Mohan Joshi said the connotation of worshipping Kumari is to bind all humans into one and spread the message of love and prosperity. He added that the tradition of pulling the chariot of Kumari during Indra Jatra dates back to the last Malla King of Kathmandu, Jaya Prakash Malla. The Jatra will continue for eight days with much rejoicing, singing, dancing and feasting until the closing ceremony.