Editorial photo #11222998 Religion and Belief
Rato Machhindranath Chariot Ascension In Nepal
The Living Goddess Kumari is observing the procession to ascend the idol of Lord Rato Machhindranath, also known as the ''Red God,'' into the sky-scraping chariot in Lalitpur, Nepal, on May 9, 2024. Nepal's ''Red God,'' commonly known as Rato Machhindranath, the lord of rain and harvest, is being ascended onto a 32-foot-tall chariot that is set to tour around the city for weeks. The chariot procession of Rato Machhendranath, also called ''Bunga Dugh'' in Newari, meaning the God of Rain and Harvest, is the longest Jatra in Nepal and runs for months, depending largely on astronomy. The Newar community annually constructs a 32-foot sky-scraping chariot for Rato Machhendranath using wooden beams and thumped 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)
