Mass Kumari puja held at Maru Hiti on fourth day of Indra Jatra

Mass Kumari puja was held at Maru Hiti in Kathmandu on Saturday, the fourth day of Indra Jatra.

A significant number of Newar families arrived at Maru Hiti to take part in the puja. They brought forward their young daughters, dressed in Kumari attire, for the worship. The girls were revered and worshipped as living Kumaris.

There is a tradition of holding the Kumari puja the day after the Yosin, or pole, marking the start of Indra Jatra, is erected. Following that tradition, a mass Kumari puja was also held at Kathmandu's Basantapur Durbar Square the day after the Yosin was erected.

With Indra Jatra under way, this year's major festivals are also drawing closer.

Meanwhile, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has said there is a 60 percent chance of moderate rain with thunder in Kathmandu today. According to the department, Kathmandu's temperature will remain around 19 to 21 degrees Celsius.

Moderate rain with thunder and lightning is forecast at many places in the mountainous and hilly areas of Bagmati province, with heavy rain possible at one or two places. Gusty winds may blow at some places in the Tarai and hilly areas of the province today.

Tomorrow, most of Bagmati province will be cloudy, with moderate rain with thunder likely at most places in the Tarai region.