Form The Eyes of The Lens: Rato Machhendranath Rath Jatra

Figure of Deity Rato Machhindranath

Rato Machhindranath

is worshipped as the god of rain and it makes sense that the festival starts just before the monsoon arrives in Kathmandu. Rato Machhindranath was also revered by medieval kings in the Kathmandu Valley as the guardian deity of Kathmandu Valley. Legend has it that it was brought from Assam, by a farmer to Lalitpur in Nepal to prevent a drought during the rice season.

It is known as Bundyo to Newars, the locals of the Kathmandu valley. Rato Machhindranath is also known by the names such as Lokeswor, Avalokiteswor, Aryavalokotiswor and Karunamaya.

The name “Rato Machhindranath” literally translates into “Red Fish God”.

Rato means Red and Machhindranath can be broken down into two words “Machhindra or Matsyendra” which means Fish and Nath means God.

The temple of Rato Machchhindranath lies in the southern part of the Patan Durbar Square since 1673.

The Temple of Rato Machhindranath

The Rato Machhendranath temple is one of the oldest temples of Patan which , Nepal. Rato Machhendranath temple is also known as Patan temple. This temple of Rato Machhendranath dates back from the 16th century.. Each of the four well crafted wooden doors of this temple is guarded by two lion figures while the four corners of the temple are guarded by Khyah, a Yeti-like demonic figure.

Rato Machchhindranath spends six months of the year in this temple.

The village of Bungamati, regarded as the birthplace of Machchhindranath, is a traditional Newar town located 10 km from downtown Kathmandu. The temple of Rato Machchhindranath is located in the heart of this village and it is known as his second home. It is a well crafted shikhara styled temple.

After the chariot festival, Rato Machchhindranath spends the next six month in this temple.

The Chariot Festival of Rato Machhindranath
May 11th - 014

The festival Rato Machhendranath Rath Jatra begins a Pulchowk, Kathmandu, Nepal. Pulchowk is the place where the chariot of Rato Machhendranath Rath is built.
The locals build a 60-foot tall chariot in Pulchowk. For about a month it wends its way through the streets of Patan. The culmination of the festival is at Jawalakhel when the bejeweled tunic. It is believed that it is supposedly belonging to the serpent king. Rath is publicly displayed at Jawalakhel.
The purpose of the festival, Rato Machhendranath Rath Jatra is to ensure a satisfactory monsoon for the rice crop in the paddy fields.

60 foot tall Chariot

Makkar Carved in the Chariot

Eyes Carved and Painted in Wheels of the Chariot

The main reason to celebrate a chariot festival in Nepal is to show respect to the rain god, Machhendranath. Because Rato Machhendranath Rath Jatra festival is celebrated just before the monsoon season starts. It is belief that the city will get plenty rainfall for good growth of crops. Rato Machhendranath Rath Jatra festival is celebrated for the peace and prosperity of the countrymen of Nepal.

Rato Machhendranath Jatra festival held in late April. This Chariot Festival of Nepal is one of the major festivals of Patan, Nepal. Rato Machhendranath Jatra festival is similar to the Seto Machhendranath Rath Jatra festival held in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Every twelfth year the chariot of Rato Machhendranath Rath Jatra itself has to be taken to Bungamati. Road may be very hilly and far from smooth. Each year the deity Machhendranath spends three months in Bungamati but in these intervening years, it is carried there on a palanquin.

Image of Garud carved in the Chariot

Image of Bhairab in the front of the Chariot

When the chariot procession starts, thousands of people assemble to observe and worship the fair.

On the first day, it’s pulled towards Ganabahal, on the second day towards Sundhara and on the third day to Lagankhel. Then it rests there for two to three days.

People flock to Lagankhel to worship the chariot during this time.


Face painted so the swelling cant be visible and its actually a medication.

She replied "its and old medication"

Coconut Drop

Sounds Crazy but Crazy in the way of AWESOMENESS
May 11th - 014

At Lagankhel,
a coconut is dropped from the top of the chariot and its believed that whoever grabs the coconut will be blessed with a son and prosperity. So many people compete to catch the dropped coconut.

Coconut Drop during Rato Machhendranath Chariot Festival

Chakala Dangol climbed all the way to the top of the Rato Machhendranath Chariot,

teasing the crowd with Coconut and threw the coconut to the crowd in Lalitpur, Nepal

According to local legend, whoever catches it will be blessed with a son and prosperity.

The Winner displays the Coconut to the crowd then offers the Coconut back to Rato Machhendranath.

Chakala Dangol at the top of the 60 foot Machhendranath Chariot

Chakala Dangol teasing the crowd with Coconut

Chakala Dangol finally threw the coconut in the crowd

Guy who captured the Coconut

END OF THE DAY

A day when

Rato Machhendranath Chariot

is Pulled by women

May 12th - 014

After that the chariot reaches Thali and the next morning only the women pull the chariot.

During the chariot procession traditional Newari bands and Sarduljung (army) battalion plays their band. After reaching Thahiti tole, the chariot remains there for a few days.

Ready to pull the Chariot

In an Action "Pull"

Guy leading the way and commanding

Unity-Ready to pull

Salute to all the women who pulled Rato Machhendranath Chariot. Ending with a Round of Applause

End 0f The Day

The Chariot of Machhendranath stayed at the Thahiti tole for almost a month and at June 19th - 014.

Pulled to Jawalakhel and Rest there for 3 days and set the date for the last ceremony of

Rato Machhendranath Chariot Festival which is

Bhoto Jatra

- June 21th - 014 -

Before the day of Bhoto Jatra

Bhoto Jatra

June 22nd - 014

On the last day of this year’s month-long Rato Machhendranath Jatra in Patan, a bejeweled vest is displayed to the crowd gathered in Jawlakhel. This auspicious day, observed as Bhoto Jatra, falls on June 22nd this year.

The pulling of Rato Machhendranath’s chariot, which starts from Ga Bahal of Patan, is toured around different parts of the city and concludes at Jawalakhel.
Though there are several versions of the legend behind the Bhoto and its Jatra,all of the stories involve a Jyapu farmer, a thief, and the Karkotaka Naga.

Legends have it that the Karkotaka Nag, the chief of the serpents and who lived at Taudaha (near Chovar), gifted a diamond-encrusted vest to a Jyapu after he cured the Karkotaka Nag’s sick wife. The Nag was in the Valley in a human form in search of a Baidhya (homeopathic doctor) who could cure his wife’s eye disorder. On seeing the Jyapu using herbal paste on his wound, the Nag requested him to accompany him to cure his wife at home despite the Jyapu’s denial of being a Baidhya.
However, one hot afternoon, not being able to tolerate the heat, the farmer, while working on his field, unfastened the vest and kept it in a nearby alley. Alas! The vest disappeared.

According to Yagya Ratna Shakya’s, one of the priests of the Machhendranath Temple at Bungamati of Patan, a ghost stole the vest.

Despite a lot of endeavor, the farmer could not track down his valuable asset.

“However, during a Rato Machhendranath Jatra, the farmer spotted the ghost in his precious vest. It is believed that gods, ghosts and spirits along with human beings gathered in Patan to witness the Jatra and even participated in the procession of drawing the chariot,” adds Shakya.

On seeing the ghost with his rightful vest, the farmer started a heated argument, which came to the notice of the concerned authorities. But as both of them could not produce proofs that the vest belonged to either of them, it was put on a public display in the Jatra.

Upon a mediator’s advice, the vest was offered to Lord Machhendranath, also known as Karunamaya, God of Compassion. The very same day it was also declared that whoever produced evidences could take back the vest.

“Apart from the physical elements of these stories, we also need to understand the essence behind them,”

"Machhendranath is known by several names—Karunamaya, Avalokiteshvara etc—by people of different sects. And during the Jatra, people from various backgrounds gather in the same place to worship the same deity, which helps in maintaining harmony amongst the different sects,”.

On regular days, the bhoto is packed, sealed and kept along with Machhendranath’s statue under the custody of the temple’s priest, informs priest Shakya. There are altogether 31 appointed priests for the temple, and their duty rotates every 15 days.

The bhoto was displayed in the presence of the king before the abolition of monarchical system in Nepal. However, these days, Nepal’s President, as head of the state, has been observing the annual bhoto display. From the chariot of Machhendranath, the bhoto is shown to the mass thrice in all the four cardinal directions.

The honor of displaying the sacred vest goes to the office head of the Guthi Sansthan of Patan Division.