Like Gaijatra, Indra Jatra signals a week of religious and cultural festivities in Kathmandu. There are several foci of interest. In the morning, when this festival begins, members of families who have died within the past year go around the town limits, burning incense and placing oil lamps along the route. The following day, a tall wooden throne representing the throne of god Indra, the King of Gods, is raised in front of the Hanuman Dhoka Palace (The Kathmandu Durbar Square). Wooden statues of the God Indra and large wooden masks of Bhairav are on display in the old bazaar at Indra Chowk in Basantapur.

Several religious dances, including the Devinach (Dance of the goddess), Majipat Lakhe (Lakhe masked dance), Bhairav and Bhakku and Mahakali Nach (also mask dances), get performed back to life. The week also witnesses chariots drawn of Ganesh, Bhairav and the Living Goddess Kumari through Kathmandu. The head of state visits the site to pay homage to Kumari just before the chariot-pulling is initiated.