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“Rato Machhendranath or Matsyendranath is a god of rain worshiped by both Hindus and Buddhists in Nepal. Hindus regard him as the reincarnation of the Lord Shiva, while the Buddhists regard him as the Tantric reincarnation of Avalokiteshvara. The temple of Rato Machchhindranath lies in the southern part of the Patan Durbar Square since 1673. The most important event connected with the deity is the annual chariot procession known as Bunga Dyah Jatra or Rato Machhindranath Jatra. Each year, the locals of Patan, Lalitpur celebrate the festival in order to show respect to the rain god. This festival is one of the oldest and the longest festival celebrated in Patan and is celebrated in April–May. It is celebrated just before the monsoon season starts so that the city will get plenty rainfall for good growth of crops. During the procession, the image of Bunga Dyah is placed on a tall chariot about 65 feet high and pulled in stages through the streets of Patan for a month”. – Wikipedia


Devotees push the chariot of Rato Machhindranath during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. Rato Machhindranath is known as the god of rain and both Hindus and Buddhists worship Machhindranath for good rain to prevent drought during the rice harvest season. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Devotees push the chariot of Rato Machhindranath during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. Rato Machhindranath is known as the god of rain and both Hindus and Buddhists worship Machhindranath for good rain to prevent drought during the rice harvest season. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)




Nepalese devotees climb on the chariot to prepare it on the first day of Rato Machindranath chariot festival in Bungmati, Lalitpur, Nepal, Wednesday, April 22, 2015. Members of Nepal's Newar community believe celebrating this festival brings rain, good crop and prosperity. (Photo by Niranjan Shrestha/AP Photo)

Nepalese devotees climb on the chariot to prepare it on the first day of Rato Machindranath chariot festival in Bungmati, Lalitpur, Nepal, Wednesday, April 22, 2015. Members of Nepal's Newar community believe celebrating this festival brings rain, good crop and prosperity. (Photo by Niranjan Shrestha/AP Photo)




Devotees pull the chariot of Rato Machhindranath during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Devotees pull the chariot of Rato Machhindranath during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)




A devotee climbs the chariot of Rato Machhindranath to fix ropes during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A devotee climbs the chariot of Rato Machhindranath to fix ropes during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)




Devotees observe the chariot festival of Rato Machhindranath from the roof of a house at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Devotees observe the chariot festival of Rato Machhindranath from the roof of a house at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)




A boy sweeps under the chariot of Rato Machhindranath during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A boy sweeps under the chariot of Rato Machhindranath during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)




Devotees gather around the chariot of Rato Machhindranath during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Devotees gather around the chariot of Rato Machhindranath during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)




Devotees gather near the chariot of Rato Machhindranath during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Devotees gather near the chariot of Rato Machhindranath during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)




Devotees dressed in traditional attire play a traditional musical instrument in front of the chariot of Rato Machhindranath during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Devotees dressed in traditional attire play a traditional musical instrument in front of the chariot of Rato Machhindranath during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)




A woman looks towards the chariot of Rato Machhindranath from the window of a house during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A woman looks towards the chariot of Rato Machhindranath from the window of a house during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)




Devotees in traditional attire dance to the beat of traditional musical instruments near the chariot of Rato Machhindranath during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Devotees in traditional attire dance to the beat of traditional musical instruments near the chariot of Rato Machhindranath during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)




Devotees gather to observe the Rato Machhindranath chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Devotees gather to observe the Rato Machhindranath chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)




A devotee climbs the chariot of Rato Machhindranath during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A devotee climbs the chariot of Rato Machhindranath during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)




A devotee climbs on top of the chariot of Rato Machhindranath to fix ropes during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A devotee climbs on top of the chariot of Rato Machhindranath to fix ropes during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)




A woman looks towards the chariot of Rato Machhindranath from the window of a house during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A woman looks towards the chariot of Rato Machhindranath from the window of a house during the chariot festival at Bungamati in Lalitpur April 22, 2015. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)




Nepalese devotees gather on the first day of Rato Machindranath chariot festival in Bungmati, Lalitpur, Nepal, Wednesday, April 22, 2015. (Photo by Niranjan Shrestha/AP Photo)

Nepalese devotees gather on the first day of Rato Machindranath chariot festival in Bungmati, Lalitpur, Nepal, Wednesday, April 22, 2015. (Photo by Niranjan Shrestha/AP Photo)
23 Apr 2015 12:21:00