Click image to zoom
Chariot Procession Of Seto Macchindranath, Hindu God Of Rain And Harvest Starts In Nepal
A local musical band is playing hymns before the formal start of the chariot procession of Seto Macchindranath in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 16, 2024. The procession, which honors the god of rain and is also known as Jana Baha Dyah Jatra, features a towering chariot of Seto Machindranath being pulled from place to place over the course of three days. Each day, when the chariot reaches its destination, a group of soldiers is firing their rifles into the air. According to myth, during the reign 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 of Swayambhunath's power, 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 with half-closed eyes, emerged from the water and 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)
Photo Details
| Photo ID | #11153245 |
|---|---|
| Date Taken | |
| Location | N/A |
| Photographer | Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto |
| Category | Religion and Belief |
| Copyright | © 2026 NurPhoto - Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto |
Related Keywords
local musical band
hymns
chariot procession
Seto Macchindranath
Kathmandu
April 16
2024
god of rain
Jana Bāhā Dyah Jātrā
skyscraping chariot
terminus
soldiers
rifle fire
Yakshya Malla
King of Kantipur
holy river
Swayambhunath
heaven
Yamraj
God of Death
temple
immortality
Arya Awalokiteshwor
water deity
white color
half-closed eyes
Kalmati river
Bagmati river
temple construction
blessing
contentment
long life
annual celebration
three-day event
Subaas Shrestha
NurPhoto
cultural tradition
Nepalese festival
historical myth
religious ceremony
2026 NurPhoto. All rights reserved.
This image is the property of NurPhoto and is protected under international copyright laws.