Kathmandu: President Ram Chandra Paudel attended the historic and cultural Indra Jatra festival at Hanuman Dhoka, Basantapur Durbar Square, in Kathmandu today. Walking from Juddha Salik to Gaddhibaithak, the President participated in the festivities, offering prayers to deities and marking the start of the chariot procession of Ganesh, Bhairab, and the living goddess Kumari.

Several dignitaries, including Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Chief Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, and other senior officials, joined President Paudel to observe the celebrations.

Indra Jatra, a significant festival for the Newari community in the Kathmandu Valley, began with cultural rituals on Sunday. The main day of celebrations is on Tuesday, followed by a chariot procession in Mathillo Tole on Wednesday. Women will lead the Nanicha Yatra chariot procession on September 21, during which President Paudel will receive Tika and Prasad from Goddess Kumari. The festival will conclude the same day with various traditional dances such as Lakhe Naach, Mahakali Naach, and Pulukisi Naach, as the Indradhowj is ceremonially taken down.