First Melbourne Indra Jatra – Yenya Punhi Celebrates Newa Culture and Heritage
6 September 2025 | Diggers Rest, Victoria
Newa Guthi Victoria proudly presented the first Melbourne Indra Jatra – Yenya Punhi, marking a historic milestone for the Newa community in Victoria. The grand celebration brought together approximately 6,000 people from the Newa, Nepali and wider Australian communities for a vibrant day of culture, tradition and community participation.
The celebration showcased the richness of Newa heritage through a range of traditional performances and cultural activities, including live Dhime Baja, Dhime dance, Basuri, Rath Yatra, Swet Bhairav, Samay Baji and Pulu Kisi dance.
The event was also honoured by the presence of ministers, councillors, community leaders and special guests, highlighting the growing recognition and importance of Newa culture within Victoria’s multicultural community.
From traditional music and dance to the Rath Yatra and the sharing of Samay Baji, the celebration created an opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to experience and appreciate the living traditions of the Kathmandu Valley.
The overwhelming community participation made the first Melbourne Indra Jatra a grand success and an important milestone in the journey of Newa Guthi Victoria. It demonstrated the strength of community collaboration and the dedication of volunteers, performers, organisers and supporters who came together to make the celebration possible.
This archive entry records this landmark cultural event and the collective efforts that helped bring Indra Jatra to life in Melbourne, contributing to the preservation and promotion of Newa heritage for future generations.
Event Details
- Date: 6 September 2025
- Location: Australian Nepalese Multicultural Centre (ANMC), Diggers Rest, Victoria
- Attendance: Approximately 6,000 people
- Organised by: Newa Guthi Victoria
- Activity: Melbourne’s first Indra Jatra – Yenya Punhi celebration
- Highlights: Dhime Baja, Dhime dance, Basuri, Rath Yatra, Swet Bhairav, Samay Baji and Pulu Kisi dance
- Special Guests: Ministers, councillors, community leaders and community guests
- Outcome: A landmark and highly successful celebration of Newa culture and heritage