Lalitpur, May 2: The chariot of Rato Machhindranath (also known as Matsyendranath) has been pulled to Ga:bahal.
The chariot was pulled from Pulchowk to Ga:bahal on Tuesday. The chariot is taken on a procession through various locations in Patan. It passes through Pulchowk, Ga:bahal, Sundhara towards Mahabouddha, Chaku Bahal, then on to Lagankhel, Podedole, and Jawalakhel.
The festival includes traditional rituals such as the coconut-throwing ceremony and the “Bhoto Showing” ceremony. The festival concludes in Jawalakhel with the symbolic showing of the sacred Bhoto from the chariot.
Every day, at the location where the chariot is brought, the festival is celebrated. It is believed that seeing Rato Machhindranath brings peace, prosperity, and happiness. This is also considered Nepal’s longest-running festival.
Machhindranath is also known by other names such as Avalokiteshvara and Bungadyo.
Photo: News Agency Nepal
