Kathmandu, Sept. 1 -- For the Newa people of Kathmandu, Yenya, also known as Indra Jatra, is their biggest festival. In the eight days the festival is observed, streets and temples in the heart of old Kathmandu are lined with samaya bajis, which are later devoured by the locals. Masked dances, representing various deities and demons, are performed in the vicinity of old Newa settlements, which also witness three chariots-of Kumari, Bhairav, and Ganesh-parading on the streets, with people pulling the chariots with much excitement and fervour.

"Yenya is a multi-faceted celebration, having cultural, religious, and social significance in Newa culture, which sees the involvement of every Newa caste group," says Chunda Bajracharya, a culture e...