July 28, 2025

Yenya Punhi, also known as Kathmandu’s Full Moon Festival, is one of the most intricate and locally rooted celebrations in the city. Coinciding with Indra Jatra, this ancient Newar Buddhist festival spans several days and is marked by a series of processions, offerings, and symbolic journeys. The name “Yenya Punhi” literally means “Festival of Kathmandu during the full moon,” and it brings out the soul of the city—ritual, performance, and public gathering.

At the heart of the celebration is the sacred procession of images representing the Buddha and various protective deities. These statues, known as Dyo Bwekegu, are brought out of their temples and carried through designated ritual routes across the city. This act of sacred mobility reinforces the belief that the gods must visit their domains to bless the city and maintain harmony.

Particularly striking is the presence of Samyak, a communal feast held for Buddhist images, during which alms are offered to monks and deities alike. The festival is deeply connected to themes of merit-making, purification, and honoring ancestors, blending Buddhist doctrines with vibrant community involvement.

Yenya Punhi also coincides with the public display of the Living Goddess Kumari, creating a powerful moment where tantric ritual, Vajrayana Buddhism, and royal traditions converge. While Indra Jatra dominates the headlines, Yenya Punhi offers a more introspective, devotional layer to the city’s week-long spiritual fervor.

This festival often goes unnoticed by tourists focused on the more dramatic processions—but for those in the know, Yenya Punhi reveals the spiritual architecture of Kathmandu itself, where streets become sacred, and daily life is elevated into divine choreography.

Time of Year: September (coincides with full moon of Indra Jatra week)

Location: Kathmandu city core (especially around Durbar Square and Thamel)

Duration: 1 to 3 days (depends on local cycles)

What to Expect: Sacred image processions, Buddhist offerings, public rituals, Living Goddess sightings, deep spiritual atmosphere

Interesting Facts:

  • Yenya Punhi is older than Indra Jatra in some local oral traditions
  • Celebrates the Buddhist ideal of Dana (generosity)
  • Most processions follow an ancient urban pilgrimage route through historic neighborhoods