Excitement galore at annual chariot festival in Lalitpur

LALITPUR: Women pulled the chariot of Rato Machhindranath from Podetole of Lagan-

khel to Bighneshwor Ganesh Temple at Thahiti tole today.

“It was exciting to see the women pulling the chariot,” said an onlooker, Shova

Maharjan, who pulled

the chariot herself two years ago. “The Rath Yatra falls once a year so we never miss the opportunity,” Maharjan added.

Thousands of women,

regardless of their age, flocked to Lagankhel this morning to try their hands at the chariot.

The chariot procession

of Rato Machhindranath, which takes place on

auspicious days between April to June, began on April 29 this year.

Laxmi Shahi of Balkumari, who pulled the chariot for the fifth consecutive time this year, said it was amazing to do the job.

“It looks simple only when others, especially men, pull it,” said Maharjan. “I took ill after the exhausting feat,” she added.

Coconut, which is regarded as the harbinger of prosperity and believed to make a wish come true, was thrown down the pinnacle of the chariot yesterday at Lagankhel.

The one who holds it is believed to get his/her wishes fulfilled.

Rato Machhindranath gifts couples a son, according to locals.

On the eve of throwing the coconut and drawing the chariot from Lagankhel to Jawalakhel, female street sweepers used to sleep naked hoping that Machhindranath would descend to sleep with them. Women from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Kirtipur thronged the spot to pull the chariot.

“More than 100 women were actively involved in pulling the two chariots weighing about 50 and

20 tons respectively,”

said local Bhairaja Dheula. “I observed the celebration with a keen interest,” Dheula said.

Rato Machhindranath is worshipped as the God of rain and harvest. It is popularly known as Bodhisatva, Padmapani, Bunga Dyo and Karunamaya Lokeshwara, which in Buddhism means a compassionate God.

The chariot is pulled from Pulchowk through Gabahal, Sundhara, Lagankhel and Jawalakhel, according to the Lalitpur branch of Guthi Sansthan. Astrologers choose an auspicious day and time before the chariot is brought to Jawalakhel.

Four days later, Bhoto Jatra takes place, which is observed by the head of the state, chief of constitutional bodies, ministers, high ranking government officials and representatives of diplomatic community. . Then it is returned to the temple of Bungmati, a village in southern Lalitpur.