The religious festival of pulling the chariot of the Rato Machhindranath deity around the local town concluded here on Sunday.

Traditionally, an idol of the Rato Machhindranath deity is ensconced on a special chariot constructed at Pingaltol after the idol is bathed in milk and anointed on the full moon day of the month of Chaitra.

The chariot is then taken around the local Nakchhetol, Korchhetol, Tasinchatol, Mathillotol, Dungaltol and Kokulungatol for eight days from Pingaltol.

The locals worship the deity as Lokeshwar and Karunamaya. There is also an age-old practice in which the people of the particular locality on the traditional route of the chariot organise a special feast the day the chariot stops over at their respective localities.

The chariot procession is held with the belief that there will be no drought and agriculture production will be bountiful and wishing for cordial relations between the people and the king.

It is believed that the chariot procession has started some 400 years ago by the Malla King Basudev.