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

Devotees carry the idol of Rato Macchindranath for ascension in Lalitpur, Nepal, on April 18, 2026. The Rato Macchindranath Chariot Festival, which spans several weeks based on astrological timing, begins with the ''Aajus'' or ''Priests'' placing the ''Red God'' onto the chariot. Known as ''Bunga Dugh'' in Newari, meaning the God of Rain and Harvest, this is the longest Jatra in Nepal, lasting for months depending on astronomical factors. The Newar community constructs a 32-foot chariot annually using wooden beams without nails, a process that takes about a week. 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 ascension. It is stationed on the roadside for four days, then pulled to Ga:Bahal for a day, followed by Sundhara and Mangalbazar, where it remains for one day each. (Photo by Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto)

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