INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
FILE nsprint; A huge crowd gathers to watch the chariot procession of Rato Machhindranath, in Lalitpur, on Sunday, April 30, 2017
Photo: Skanda Gautam
KATHMANDU: The procession of Rato Machhindranath chariot starts nowadays in Lalitpur
It shall move from Pulchok where the chariot has been built and is currently located, and shall reach Gabahal approach Magalbazaar
nowadays.
Rato Machhindranath is worshipped as the God of Rain and Harvest
Both Hindus and Buddhists pay their homage to the deity.
The deity chariot is pulled every year and taken around various places of Lalitpur
attracting a huge crowd of worshippers and onlookers.
It is believed that Rato Machhindranath, also known as Karunamaya, was brought to
Kathmandu Valley from Kamaru Kamakshya in Assam of India when there was no rain in the valley for a long time.
The festival is observed just
before the onset of monsoon
It is believed that worshipping the deity brings rain in the first few days of the festival.
The chariot procession that starts from Pulchok
moves through Natole, Gabahal, Mangal Bazaar, Patan Sundhara, Lagankhel, Kumaripati before reaching Jawalakhel.
