Do the Lakhey dancers bring their own drummers?

Yes, the drumming is part of the traditional performance; equipment bookings are typically for crowd areas, commentary and viewing platforms rather than the dance itself.

Does Indra Jatra fall on the same date every year?

No, it follows the lunar Nepal Era calendar, so the Gregorian dates shift from year to year; confirm the current year's schedule before booking.

Indra Jatra: sound system rental in Nepal

Kathmandu's biggest street festival, with the chariot procession of the Kumari, the Living Goddess, and masked Lakhey dances.

When: eight days in September, dates follow the lunar Nepal Era calendar
Typical audience: 200 to 15,000 guests
Cultural festival

Indra Jatra is the Newar community's largest religious street festival, centred on Kathmandu Durbar Square with the chariot procession of the Kumari, a young girl venerated as a living goddess, alongside smaller chariots for Ganesh and Bhairav. Each evening, masked Lakhey dancers perform to loud drumming through the old city streets, and nightly enactments depict the ten earthly incarnations of Vishnu on a platform facing the Kumari's temple.

The festival opens with the raising of a ceremonial pole at Basantapur Square and closes with its lowering eight days later, and falls just before Nepal's two biggest festivals, Dashain and Tihar.

What you will need

Coverage for Durbar Square and the chariot procession route
Equipment able to run for eight consecutive evenings
Wireless microphones for commentary and announcements
Robust equipment for dense historic-square crowds

Recommended equipment in Nepal

Line Array Systems

Line arrays for Durbar Square and the procession route.

PA Speakers

Coverage for crowds along narrow old-city streets.

Wireless Microphones

Microphones for commentary and announcements.

Subwoofers

Low end alongside the festival's own drumming.

Related event guides

Cultural festivals and national celebrations Open-air festivals Religious events and gatherings

More events in Nepal

Constitution Day Dashain Tihar

Frequently asked questions

Do the Lakhey dancers bring their own drummers?: Yes, the drumming is part of the traditional performance; equipment bookings are typically for crowd areas, commentary and viewing platforms rather than the dance itself.
Does Indra Jatra fall on the same date every year?: No, it follows the lunar Nepal Era calendar, so the Gregorian dates shift from year to year; confirm the current year's schedule before booking.