KATHMANDU: The Bhoto (vest) of Rato Machhindranath, the god of rain and harvest, was exhibited in Jawalakhel today.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Acting Chief Justice Dipak Raj Joshi and Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa visited Jawalakhel to observe the Bhoto.

After displaying the Bhoto to Rato Machhindranath and President Bhandari, it was displayed thrice from all four corners of the chariot, according to the chief of Guthi Corporation Lalitpur Chapter, Shailendra Poudel.

Bhoto Jatra was called Jawalakhel Jatra for 800 years. Ja refers to rice and Wala refers to scatter and was called Jawalakhel Jatra, according to Member of Nepal Calendar Determination Committee Kirtimadan Joshi. This festival is believed to have been observed to offer food to demons.

Joshi said that the exact date of the beginning of Bhoto Jatra is not confirmed. But, the Machhindranath Jatra started some 1,300 years ago. In the recent years, the officials of Guthi Corporation Office, Lalitpur, have been displaying the Bhoto in presence of the Head of the State.