Kathmandu, May 25

The Rato Machhendranath chariot festival concluded in Jawalakhel of Lalitpur today with the annual ritual of displaying the black jewel-studded bhoto (vest) believed to be of Nagraj, serpent king.

A Guthi Sansthan official displayed the iconic vest to the public in the presence of President Bidhya Devi Bhandari amid a special function. The head of the state also received tika and prasad from the priest. Vice-president Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Speaker Onsari Gharti also attended the festival.

This longest chariot festival in the Kathmandu Valley begins from Pulchowk, where the chariot of Rato Machhendranath is built. From Pulchowk the chariot is taken through Gabahal, Mangalbazaar, Patan Sundhara, Mikhabahal, Lagankhel, Thati and Kumaripati and is kept in Jawalakhel after the Bhoto Jatra, which falls on the fourth day of the arrival of the chariot in Jawalakhel. The 32-feet high chariot is made of cane, wood and bamboo.

Hindus and the Buddhists from the Newar community celebrate the festival by towing the chariot to various places, including Jawalakhel, the venue for Bhoto Jatra. After the Jatra, the chariot is taken to Bungmati. The idol of Rato Machhendranath is kept in Bungmati for a few months and brought back to the temple only after The priest calculates and finds an auspicious day.

The festival begins before the onset of monsoon. The government had declared a public holiday in the Valley for the festival.