Yenya Punhi

येन्या पुन्ही

View on map
MusicKathmandu
Dates25 September–2 October 2026Confirmed listing
Duration8 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsFounded, according to tradition
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: NPR
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Yenya Punhi in Kathmandu

Yenya Punhi is the Newar name for Indra Jatra, the eight-day festival marking both the founding of Kathmandu and the honoring of Indra, king of heaven. Centered on Kathmandu Durbar Square, it combines the raising of a sacred pole, masked dances of deities and demons, and Upaku Wanegu, a nightly procession remembering family members who died in the past year.

Indra Jatra's founding story is civic rather than purely religious: local tradition credits King Gunakamadeva with establishing the festival in the tenth century specifically to mark the founding of Kathmandu itself, making it, in effect, the city's own commemoration layered onto older devotional practice honoring Indra, king of the Vedic gods.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Founded, according to tradition, by King Gunakamadeva in the tenth century to commemorate Kathmandu's establishment, Indra Jatra is one of the oldest continuously observed festivals in the valley and one of the few that combines civic memory with both cosmological myth and personal grief, through Upaku Wanegu's remembrance of the recently deceased

02

The mystery stays covered

The festival opens with Yosin Thanegu, the dragging and raising of a stripped tree trunk as a pole at Durbar Square, sourced from forest near Nala nearly thirty kilometers away and hauled into the city entirely by hand

03

The city starts moving

Masked dancers representing deities and demons perform through the old city streets over the following days, giving the festival a theatrical, almost carnivalesque character alongside its solemn elements

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Indra Jatra honors Indra

Water and renewal

Living ritual

king of the Vedic heavens

The sacred route

Living ritual

said in local legend to have descended to Kathmandu to gather a flower for his mother and been caught and displayed as a thief by locals before being recognized and released with honor

The local code

Living ritual

an episode echoed in the festival's own display and release rituals

Tradition 5

Living ritual

Upaku Wanegu

Tradition 6

Living ritual

observed on the festival's opening evening

Tradition 7

Living ritual

gives grieving families a structured

Tradition 8

Living ritual

communal way to honor the recently dead

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

25 September–2 October 2026

Getting around

Plan routes around set times, late-night exits, and crowded transport after headline acts.

What to wear

Modest, comfortable clothing suited to standing and walking through crowded historic streets is appropriate. No specific ritual dress is required of visitors, though warm layers help for the...

Safety

Keep phone power, water, and a clear meeting point sorted before the main crowd arrives.

Where to stay

Choose lodging by the part of Kathmandu you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

NPR

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map27.70 N, 85.32 EOpen in Google Maps

Kathmandu, Bagmati Province, Nepal

Nearest airportKTM — Tribhuvan
TransportPlan routes around set times, late-night exits, and crowded transport after headline acts.
Stay areaChoose lodging by the part of Kathmandu you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Kathmandu via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Kathmandu, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for September.Compare faresFestival gearModest, comfortable clothing suited to standing and walking through crowded historic streets is appropriate. No specific ritual dress is required of visitors, though warm layers help for the September evening processions.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Nepal and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Yenya Punhi?

Yenya Punhi is listed for 25 September–2 October 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Yenya Punhi take place?

The festival is listed in Kathmandu, Nepal. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

8 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Kathmandu, Bagmati Province, Nepal

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLntb.gov.np
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed dates25 September–2 October 2026
Source statusOfficial source linked
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