Rato Machchhindranath chariot festival begins (Pictures)

Nabin Babu Gurung

Kathmandu, May 1

The Rato Machchhindranath chariot festival began on Thursday as the deity’s chariot was pulled from Pulchowk to Gabahal in Lalitpur.

The chariot procession began from Pulchowk on Thursday afternoon, four days after the idol of Rato Machchhindranath was installed in the chariot.

The festival’s main event, Bhuja Jatra, will take place in Gabahal on Friday. From there, the chariot will be pulled to Mangal Bazaar area by evening.

Rato Machchhindranath is revered as the deity of rain and good harvest.

Celebrated with great fervor in Lalitpur, the Rato Machchhindranath Jatra is the longest chariot festival celebrated in the Kathmandu Valley.

During the month-long festival, the chariot of Rato Machchhindranath is pulled from Pulchowk to Jawalakhel through different parts of Lalitpur. The festival concludes with the Bhoto Jatra in Jawalakhel, where a jewel-studded bhoto (vest) is displayed to the public.

Although the festival is celebrated in Lalitpur, residents of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur also take part in it.