Sindoor Jatra: Thimi’s Own Festival of Faith and Colour

Sindoor Jatra (also spelled Shindur Jatra) is a local Newar festival celebrated primarily in Thimi, a historic town in Bhaktapur District. Held on New Year’s Day of the Nepali calendar (Baisakh 1st), the jatra is famous for the tossing of bright red-orange sindoor (vermilion powder), which gives the event its name.

The word Sindoor refers to the red/orange vermilion powder traditionally used in Hindu rituals, while Jatra means procession or festival. The celebrations are centred in Madhyapur Thimi, especially in the neighbourhoods of Balkumari, Nagadesh, Lokanthali, and Chapacho.

Over 30 palanquins (Khat) bearing local deities from different toles (neighbourhoods) are carried to Layeku Thimi, the main square. These palanquins are hoisted by groups of young men, who often move around, running and dancing. As they make their way towards the square, the jatra participants throw sindoor powder into the air and at one another. By the end, participants are entirely coated in the vivid orange hue—a symbol of power, purity, and joy.  The atmosphere is intense, loud, and chaotic in a festive way, with drums and music amplifying the energy.

Sindoor Jatra is more than a street celebration – it is deeply embedded in Newar traditions, mythology, the lunar calendar, and centuries-old rituals. The festival has been observed for generations, possibly dating back to the Licchavi or Malla periods (roughly the 4th to 18th century). It is an integrated part of the larger Biska: Jatra, which, according to local legend, commemorates the slaying of a demon and the restoration of peace in the region.

Here are some pictures, captured by Beeju Maharjan, from Sindoor Jatra this year: