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Chariot Procession Of Seto Macchindranath, Hindu God Of Rain And Harvest Starts In Nepal

Nepali Hindu devotees are decorating and giving the final touches to the chariot of Seto Machhindranath before the formal start of the chariot procession in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 16, 2024. The chariot procession, which honors the god of rain, is also known as Jana Baha Dyah Jatra. During these three days, the towering chariot of Seto Machindranath is being pulled from one place to another. Each day, when the chariot reaches its destination, a group of soldiers is firing their rifles into the air. According to myth, during the regime of Yakshya Malla, the King of Kantipur, people would bathe in a holy river and visit Swayambhunath, believed to grant the power to send people to heaven after death. When Yamraj, the God of Death, learned about the power of Swayambhunath, he visited the holy temple. Upon his return, he was captured by King Yakshya Malla and his Guru, who demanded immortality. Unable to escape, Yamraj prayed to Arya Awalokiteshwor (Seto Machhindranath) for freedom. The god, appearing white in color with half-closed eyes, instructed the king to build a temple at the confluence of the Kalmati and Bagmati rivers and to organize a chariot procession so that he could visit the people and bless them with contentment and long life. Since then, the three-day-long procession has been celebrated to honor the god. (Photo by Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto)

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