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Nepal: Rato Machhindranath Returns To Bungamati After Bhoto Jatra In Lalitpur

The reconstructed Rato Machhindranath Temple is seen in Bungamati, Lalitpur, Nepal, on June 20, 2026. The temple, dedicated to Rato Machhindranath, revered as the deity of rain, harvest, and prosperity in the Kathmandu Valley, was rebuilt after being destroyed in the 7.8-magnitude Gorkha earthquake of April 2015, which significantly impacted the historic Newar settlement of Bungamati and its cultural heritage. The reconstruction of the historic Shikhar-style temple took nearly a decade and involved traditional craftsmanship, archaeological documentation, and extensive participation from local communities, heritage experts, and government agencies. The idol of Rato Machhindranath, which had been housed in a temporary structure since the earthquake, was ceremonially reinstalled inside the rebuilt temple in 2025 following the completion of major reconstruction works. Bungamati is regarded as the ancestral home of Rato Machhindranath, locally known as Bungadyo, and serves as the starting and ending point of the centuries-old chariot festival, which is among the most important religious celebrations in the Kathmandu Valley. Historians trace the tradition back more than 1,300 years, with the deity revered by both Hindu and Buddhist communities as a bringer of rain, agricultural abundance, and communal well-being. (Photo by Safal Prakash Shrestha/NurPhoto)

Photo ID	#13858745
Date Taken	20 June 2026
Location	N/A
Photographer	Safal Prakash Shrestha/NurPhoto
Category	Human Interest
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Safal Prakash Shrestha/NurPhoto