Editorial photo #11222993 Religion and Belief
Rato Machhindranath Chariot Ascension In Nepal
A Nepali priest is distributing ''Prasad'' to devotees at Machhindrabahal ahead of the ascension of Lord Rato Machhindranath in the sky-scraping chariot in Kathmandu, Nepal, on May 9, 2024. Nepal's ''Red God,'' commonly known as Rato Machhindranath, the lord of rain and harvest, is ascending over a 32-foot-tall sky-scraping chariot set to tour around the city for weeks. The chariot procession of Rato Machhindranath, also called ''Bunga Dugh'' in Newari, meaning the God of Rain and Harvest, is the longest Jatra in Nepal, which runs for months, depending widely on astronomy. A 32-foot sky-scraping chariot of Rato Machhindranath is constructed annually by the Newar community using wooden beams and thumped adjustments to the shrine sanctum 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 enshrining of the lord in the chariot. (Photo by Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto)
