Rato Macchindranath Jatra festival tour offers visitors a deep insight into Nepal’s unique and cultural chariot festival. It shows the devotion towards one’s god, Rato Macchindranath (god of rain and harvest).
Rato Machindrantah Jatra is one of the major festivals of Nepal. It is also one of the longest-running chariot festivals celebrated in Kathmandu Valley. This chariot festival is conducted in Lalitpur, home to the Patan Durbar Square, one of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed three Durbar Squares in Kathmandu Valley. Rato Macchindranath Jatra festival is to honor the Vajrayana Buddhist God of compassion, ‘Avalokitesvara’, and as an avatar of Shiva for Hindus.
This month-long run ends with the Bhoto Jatra. A jewel-studded black Bhoto (vest) will be displayed on all sides of the chariot so people can see it with the hope that the actual owner will come with proof and takes it away. However, to this date, no one has arrived. So it is always kept with the image of Rato Macchindranath.
As per the tale, a sage name Gorakhnath decided to visit Kathmandu valley. He sought alms around the Kathmandu valley, but the people of Patan did not care much and showed little respect towards him.
Gorakhnath was angered by the insult and went to the location of the nine rain-bringing serpents with a vow to take revenge. He sat on the snake’s head and entered a deep level of meditation. There was no rainfall for 12 years, and all the rivers around dried off. Then the kind of Bhaktapur went to the Swayambhu to meet the Tantrik to seek a solution to end the drought. The Tantrik over there said the meditating state of the Yogi Goraknath. He also said that once the serpents were set free from the Goraknath, it would rain in the valley again.
So they traveled to Assam to bring Machindranath- the angry Gorakhnath’s teacher, back to the valley. Upon their request, he visited Kathmandu valley, and with the help of four Bhairabs, the locals took him to Gorakhnath’s place. Sensing his presence, Gorakhnath came out from this trance and stood respectfully. Finally, rain bringing serpents was free and started raining in the valley.
Later the Lalitpur King decided to keep Rato Macchindranath in Lalitpur. Since that day, people have celebrated this chariot festival in Nepal every year.
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Meet your local guide at the hotel lobby. Drive to Patan and get deep insight into Nepal’s unique and cultural chariot festival. It shows the devotion towards one’s god, Rato Macchindranath (god of rain and harvest).
The Chariot pulling starts from places called Pulchwok, Gabahal, Sundhara, Lagankhel and ends at Jawalakhel. Rato Macchendrnath Jatra festival is to honor the Vajrayana Buddhist God of compassion, ‘Avalokitesvara’, and as an avatar of Shiva for Hindus.
