President Bidya Devi Bhandari attends Indra Jatra celebration

KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari reached the Basantapur Durbar Square on Thursday and attended the celebration of annual Indra Jatra festival marked by worshiping the Living Goddess, Kumari, on Thursday.

President Bhandari offered the bheti to Lord Ganesh and Lord Bhairav as well. Then, she received prasad from the priest. On the occasion, she observed different traditional cultural pageants and dances.

On the occasion, she observed different traditional cultural pageants and dances.

The ceremony was also attended by Acting Prime Minister Bimalendra Nidhi, Chief Justice Sushila Shrestha, Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar, chiefs of the constitutional bodies, security chiefs, representatives of diplomatic missions and commoners.

Chariot procession is one of the main functions 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 Nepali calendar.

The festival is also celebrated in Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Dhulikhel and Dolakha.

It is marked for eight days.