FILE nsprint; A huge crowd gathers to watch the chariot procession of Rato Machhindranath, in Lalitpur, on Sunday, April 30, 2017.
Photo: Skanda GautamKATHMANDU: 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.