Rato Machindranath reached Pulchowk
The longest festival of Nepal, Rato Machindranath‘s chariot have reached Pulchowk after pulling from Ekantakuna at night.
In every 12 years, the chariot of Rato Machindranath is pulled directly from Bugamati to various places of Patan and then return to Bugmati to complete the festival.
This year the festival was started on 19 April 2015 but after major earthquake on 25 April 2015, the chariot was stranded in Chyasikot of Lalitpur.
After much delayed due to aftershocks and tremors, the chariot was re-built and the idol of Rato Machindranath was installed on 21 September 2015. Then it was started to pull again from 22 September passing Saibu, Bhaisipati and Nakhu river.
Chariot of Rato Machindranath at Chaysikot
It was placed at Nakhu and the next day, it was pulled to Bhisnu Devi Ekantakuna and Bhanimandal. As per ritual and tradition, from Yuelakhel to Pulchowk, the chariot was started to pull at night around 10:30 PM and reached to Pulchowk nearly at 12:00.
Chariot of Rato Machindranath at Yuelakhel
After that the chariot will be pulled following annual route from Pulchowk to Mangalbazar, passing Gabahal, Mahapal and Sundhara. From Mangalbazar it will be pulled to Lagankhel, Thatitole then to Jawalakhel.
From Jawalakhel, again it will be pulled passing through Bhanimandal, Ekantakuna, Nakhu and back to Bungamati as per tradition to complete 12 years special festival of Rato Machindranath.
This year only the festival of Rato Machindranath is being observed in the month of Ashwin due to earthquake.