CHARIOT PROCESSION MACHHINDRANATH

 The chariot proem Machhindranath of Lali one of the important n11 festivals of Kathmandu Lalitpur's Machhindri popularly known as Rau Machhindranath of 1.1 is equivalent to Seto ov Machhindranath of Kati% u The RatoMachhindranath I begins with a chairot pow starting from Baisakh Pratipada - the New Moos of the first month of Hindu It is Nepal's longest tival and ends with the ra'. days before the Kession, the idol of thindranath is placed pin and taken to the ap at Lagankhel for The deity is then its resting place at n Lalitpur's Nabahal xl in a special chariot at Pulchowk. The pt here for four days ting the procession. ents pull the chariot .howk to Gabahal, dhara and Jawlakhel and ceremony. A trologers decides the neat, under the most stellar combination, to start the procession. The duration of the procession may therefore vary from year to year. The festivity culminates into the 'Bhoto Jatra' four days after the chariot reaches Jawlalchel. Hindus regardMachhindranath as the deity of rain and good harvest. Thus the farmers worship the deity with special reverence. The festival is celebrated amid grand ceremonies in Lalitpur where the local residents organize feasts, worships and prayers to the deity at various places along the route of the Chariot Procession. The festivity is celebrated as a national festival and the final day of `Bhoto Jatra is witnessed by the head of the state.