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

Members of the younger generation from the Newa community, the indigenous people of the Kathmandu Valley, are playing traditional musical instruments in front of the chariot of Seto Machhindranath before the official start of the chariot procession in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 16, 2024. The procession, which honors the god of rain and is also known as Jana Baha Dyah Jatra, involves pulling the towering chariot of Seto Machindranath from one place to another 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 legend, during the reign of Yakshya Malla, the King of Kantipur, people would bathe in a holy river and visit Swayambhunath, which was 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, 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 happiness and longevity. Since then, this three-day-long procession has been celebrated to honor the god. (Photo by Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto)

Photo Details

Photo ID	#11153247
Date Taken	16 April 2024
Location	N/A
Photographer	Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto
Category	Religion and Belief
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto

Related Keywords

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