KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepal’s monthslong festival season began on Tuesday with tens of thousands of devotees pulling a wooden chariot with a young girl revered as a living goddess.
Families gathered for feasts and lit incense for the dead at shrines. Men and boys in colorful masks and gowns representing Hindu deities danced to traditional music and drums, drawing throngs of spectators to Kathmandu's old streets.
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The Lakhe, a demon adored for divine might, performs during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
The Lakhe, a demon adored for divine might, performs during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Masked dancers perform during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Devotees perform a traditional elephant dance during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Devotees pull the chariot during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Masked dancers perform during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
The Lakhe, a demon adored for divine might, performs during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Devotees perform a traditional elephant dance during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Living god Ganesh is directed towards a chariot during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Devotees play traditional drums during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Devotees gather to watch the annual Indra Jatra festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Living goddess Kumari is directed towards a chariot during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Masked dancers perform during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Devotees use foam spray as they dance during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Living goddess Kumari reacts as she is being carried during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
A masked dancer performs during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
The Indra Jatra festival marks the end of the monsoon and rice farming season and signals the dawn of fall. It's celebrated mostly by the Newar community, the native residents of Kathmandu. It is also known as the festival of deities and demons and especially honors Indra, the Hindu god of rain.
The masked dancers, one of the highlights of the ceremony, can be fearsome, entertaining and awe-inspiring, depending on the performers’ movements.
Kumari, a young girl who is revered by both Hindus and Buddhists in Nepal as a living goddess, left her temple palace and was driven around the center of the capital in a wooden chariot pulled by devotees, who lined up to receive her blessing. Among the spectators were President Ram Chandra Poudel, officials and diplomats.
The weeklong Indra Jatra precedes months of other festivals in the predominantly Hindu nation. They include Dasain, the main festival, and Tihar, or Diwali, the festival of lights, in November.
The Lakhe, a demon adored for divine might, performs during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
The Lakhe, a demon adored for divine might, performs during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Masked dancers perform during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Devotees perform a traditional elephant dance during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Devotees pull the chariot during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Masked dancers perform during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
The Lakhe, a demon adored for divine might, performs during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Devotees perform a traditional elephant dance during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Living god Ganesh is directed towards a chariot during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Devotees play traditional drums during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Devotees gather to watch the annual Indra Jatra festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Living goddess Kumari is directed towards a chariot during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Masked dancers perform during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Devotees use foam spray as they dance during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Living goddess Kumari reacts as she is being carried during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
A masked dancer performs during Indra Jatra, a festival that marks the end of the rainy season in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
