The Licchavi king Gunakamadeva founded a city in between these two settlements on the bank of Bishnumati river called Kantipur. The city was formed in the shape of a Manjushri's sword mentioned shwayambu puran which was used to drain Nagdaha to create the Kathmandu valley and fortified with 8 barracks which were guarded by Ajima According to folklore, Gunakamadeva dreamt of being asked to found a city by Laxmi (or Kanti so the city was formed in her name, Kantipur. According toNepal Sambat the city is believed to have been founded on the auspicious date of Yenya Punhi, with the founding stone laid by Gunakamadeva at Maru Tole, which is still present. In order to appease relations between the citizens of Yembu and Yengal, the king is believed to have started a festival where the Majipa Lakhe dance of Kone (Yengal) and Pulukishi dance of Yembu (Thahne) were performed together along the main road of the newly formed city connecting the two settlements (now called Gunakamadeva Marg). The festival is still celebrated as Yenya or Indra Jatra today but the main focus of the festival has shifted to Indra and Kumari over a long period of time.
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