Editorial photo #11222989 Religion and Belief
Rato Machhindranath Chariot Ascension In Nepal
Nepali devotees are singing hymns in front of the Lord Rato Machhindranath temple in Lalitpur, Nepal, on May 9, 2024. Known as Nepal's ''Red God,'' Rato Machhindranath, the lord of rain and harvest, is being honored with a 32-foot-tall towering chariot that is set to tour around the city for weeks. The chariot procession of Rato Machhendranath, also known as ''Bunga Dugh'' in Newari, meaning the God of Rain and Harvest, is the longest Jatra in Nepal and can last for months, depending largely on astronomical observations. A 32-foot towering chariot of Rato Machhendranath is constructed annually by the Newar community using wooden beams and precise adjustments to the shrine sanctum, all without using a single nail. It takes about a week for the community to build it, and it is given a final touch-up with decorations before the lord is placed in the chariot. (Photo by Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto)
