Editorial photo #13594039 Religion and Belief

Nepal’s Longest Chariot Festival Begins With Ascension Of “Red God”

Nihira Bajracharya, the living goddess Kumari of Patan, gives blessings to devotees on the first day of the Rato Machhindranath Jatra in Lalitpur, Nepal, on April 18, 2026. The Rato Machhindranath Chariot festival, which spans weeks based on astrological timing, begins with the ''Aajus'' or ''Priests'' carrying the ''Red God'' to the chariot. Known as ''Bunga Dugh'' in Newari, meaning the God of Rain and Harvest, it is the longest Jatra in Nepal, lasting months depending on astronomical factors. The Newar community constructs a 32-foot chariot annually using wooden beams without nails, taking about a week to complete. The chariot is then decorated before the deity is seated. In the ancient town of Lalitpur, the chariot is paraded around the city four days after the deity's ascension. It is then pulled to Ga:Bahal, rested for one day, and subsequently moved to Sundhara and Mangalbazar, where it remains for one day each. (Photo by Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto)