INDRA JATRA- 2015
ORGANISED BY SIKKIM NEWA GUTHI
PLACE- GANGTOK, EAST SIKKIM
DATE: 27/09/2015
CHIEF GUEST: HON'BLE CHIEF WHIP GOVERNMENT OF SIKKIM, SHRI BIKRAM PRADHAN.
INDRA JATRA ORGANIED BY SIKKIM NEWAR GUTHI AT GANGTOK 2015
Why Indra Jatra is celebrated?
Indra Jatra is a vibrant festival celebrated by Nepalese "NEWAR" community. It is belived that many centuries ago, Indra (king of Heaven)’s mother needed specially scented flowers (Parijat). Indra looked for them but could not find them in heaven. Indra discovered Parijat flowers in the Kathmandu Valley and tried to steal them for his mother. He was caught and imprisoned by people in the Valley. Indra’s mother came searching for him and people were shocked to know what they had done. They released Indra and dedicated one of the most colourful festivals of Nepal to him to calm down his anger. This festival lasts for eight days with singing, mask dancing and jubilation. Various masked dances like Pulu Kishi(elephant dance ), Lakhe, Sawa Bhakhu and Mahakali dances are performed at various places. Indra is thanked for the rains and assured once again that he is respected in the Kathmandu Valley.
We also come to hear another version of belief for the celebration of Indra Jatra which remarks that the "NEWAR" community, intimately linked the festival as devotees giving thanks to Lord Indra for rains, good crops and good harvest.
This festival has been officially declared as a State Holiday in Sikkim by the Government.
