Rato Machhindranath Jatra to Conclude With Bhoto Display on Saturday

The Rato Machhindranath chariot festival, known as one of Nepal’s longest cultural and religious festivals, will formally conclude on Saturday. The nearly 1,600-year-old festival will end after the Bhoto is displayed in the presence of the head of state. Lalitpur Metropolitan City-4 Ward Chair Santosh Khadka said preparations for the Bhoto display at Lalit Mandap in Jawalakhel have reached the final stage.

The chariot procession began on Baisakh Shukla Pratipada, with the idol of Lord Rato Machhindranath placed on a 32-hand-tall chariot. The chariot was pulled through Pulchowk, Mangalbazaar, Sundhara, Lagankhel and Kumaripati before reaching Jawalakhel. According to tradition, the Bhoto is displayed on the fourth day after the chariot reaches Jawalakhel. After the Bhoto Jatra, the idol of Rato Machhindranath will be placed in an ancient artistic palanquin and taken back to Machhindrabahal in Bungamati with traditional music. Ward Chair Khadka said this year’s festival was completed peacefully and successfully, and urged devotees and visitors to support security and management arrangements. He also requested that footpath trading not be carried out in the Jawalakhel area during the event.