"Return Chariot Procession"

#12434130

1 June 2025

The living goddess, Kumari of Patan, Nihira Bajracharya, watches the Bhoto Jatra procession in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 1, 2025. The chariot procession of Rato Machhindranath is observed for at least a month to four months and ends with the showing of the 'Bhoto,' expecting the rightful owner to come and claim it. Historians claim that the chariot procession of Machindranath started around 1,300 years ago. According to legend, shortly after the procession started, the queen of the serpent king Karkotak developed an eye ailment. While searching for a healer, Karkotak mistakes a farmer working in the fields for a physician and brings him to Taudaha, a wetland on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Frightened, the farmer prays to Machhindranath and rubs his hands on the soil to make an herbal paste. He offers it to Karkotak as medicine, and the paste cures the queen's eyes. Grateful, Karkotak rewards the farmer with a jewel-studded vest (bhoto) and returns him to the human world. The farmer begins wearing the bhoto while working in his fields. One day, a ghost in human form steals the vest. The farmer searches everywhere but cannot find it. Later, while attending the Machhindranath chariot festival, he sees the ghost wearing the same vest and claims it as his. When the ghost refuses to return it, a dispute breaks out. People summon Karkotak to resolve the conflict. In the end, because neither party can prove ownership, they entrust the bhoto to Machhindranath. Since then, devotees follow the tradition of displaying the bhoto after the chariot procession, hoping that someone with valid proof of ownership will come forward. Each year, they display the sacred vest on an auspicious date. According to legend, no one has succeeded in proving ownership of the bhoto so far.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12434133

1 June 2025

A member of the Rato Machhindranath Trust displays the jewel-studded vest, locally called Bhoto, during the Bhoto Jatra procession in Lalitpur, Nepal, on June 1, 2025. The chariot procession of Rato Machhindranath, observed for at least a month to four months, ends with the showing of the 'Bhoto,' expecting the rightful owner to come and claim it. Historians claim that the chariot procession of Machindranath starts around 1,300 years ago. As the legend goes, shortly after the procession starts, the queen of the serpent king Karkotak develops an eye ailment. While searching for a healer, Karkotak mistakes a farmer working in the fields for a physician and brings him to Taudaha, a wetland on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Frightened, the farmer prays to Machhindranath and rubs his hands on the soil to make an herbal paste. He offers it to Karkotak as medicine, and the paste cures the queen's eyes. Grateful, Karkotak rewards the farmer with a jewel-studded vest (bhoto) and returns him to the human world. The farmer begins wearing the bhoto while working in his fields. One day, a ghost in human form steals the vest. The farmer searches everywhere but cannot find it. Later, while attending the Machhindranath chariot festival, he sees the ghost wearing the same vest and claims it as his. When the ghost refuses to return it, a dispute breaks out. People summon Karkotak to resolve the conflict. In the end, because neither party can prove ownership, they entrust the bhoto to Machhindranath. Since then, devotees follow the tradition of displaying the bhoto after the chariot procession, hoping that someone with valid proof of ownership will come forward. Each year, they display the sacred vest on an auspicious date. According to legend, no one succeeds in proving ownership of the bhoto so far.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12434135

1 June 2025

A member of the Rato Machhindranath Trust displays the jewel-studded vest, locally called Bhoto, during the Bhoto Jatra procession in Lalitpur, Nepal, on June 1, 2025. The chariot procession of Rato Machhindranath, observed for at least a month to four months, ends with the showing of the 'Bhoto,' expecting the rightful owner to come and claim it. Historians claim that the chariot procession of Machindranath starts around 1,300 years ago. As the legend goes, shortly after the procession starts, the queen of the serpent king Karkotak develops an eye ailment. While searching for a healer, Karkotak mistakes a farmer working in the fields for a physician and brings him to Taudaha, a wetland on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Frightened, the farmer prays to Machhindranath and rubs his hands on the soil to make an herbal paste. He offers it to Karkotak as medicine, and the paste cures the queen's eyes. Grateful, Karkotak rewards the farmer with a jewel-studded vest (bhoto) and returns him to the human world. The farmer begins wearing the bhoto while working in his fields. One day, a ghost in human form steals the vest. The farmer searches everywhere but cannot find it. Later, while attending the Machhindranath chariot festival, he sees the ghost wearing the same vest and claims it as his. When the ghost refuses to return it, a dispute breaks out. People summon Karkotak to resolve the conflict. In the end, because neither party can prove ownership, they entrust the bhoto to Machhindranath. Since then, devotees follow the tradition of displaying the bhoto after the chariot procession, hoping that someone with valid proof of ownership will come forward. Each year, they display the sacred vest on an auspicious date. According to legend, no one succeeds in proving ownership of the bhoto so far.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12434136

1 June 2025

A member of the Rato Machhindranath Trust displays the jewel-studded vest, locally called Bhoto, during the Bhoto Jatra procession in Lalitpur, Nepal, on June 1, 2025. The chariot procession of Rato Machhindranath, observed for at least a month to four months, ends with the showing of the 'Bhoto,' expecting the rightful owner to come and claim it. Historians claim that the chariot procession of Machindranath starts around 1,300 years ago. As the legend goes, shortly after the procession starts, the queen of the serpent king Karkotak develops an eye ailment. While searching for a healer, Karkotak mistakes a farmer working in the fields for a physician and brings him to Taudaha, a wetland on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Frightened, the farmer prays to Machhindranath and rubs his hands on the soil to make an herbal paste. He offers it to Karkotak as medicine, and the paste cures the queen's eyes. Grateful, Karkotak rewards the farmer with a jewel-studded vest (bhoto) and returns him to the human world. The farmer begins wearing the bhoto while working in his fields. One day, a ghost in human form steals the vest. The farmer searches everywhere but cannot find it. Later, while attending the Machhindranath chariot festival, he sees the ghost wearing the same vest and claims it as his. When the ghost refuses to return it, a dispute breaks out. People summon Karkotak to resolve the conflict. In the end, because neither party can prove ownership, they entrust the bhoto to Machhindranath. Since then, devotees follow the tradition of displaying the bhoto after the chariot procession, hoping that someone with valid proof of ownership will come forward. Each year, they display the sacred vest on an auspicious date. According to legend, no one succeeds in proving ownership of the bhoto so far.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12434139

1 June 2025

Priests take out the idol of Lord Rato Machhindranath, also known as the ''Red God,'' to transport it to the ancient city of Bungmati following the completion of the Bhoto Jatra Procession on June 1, 2025. The chariot procession of Rato Machhindranath, observed for at least one to four months, ends with the display of the 'Bhoto,' expecting the rightful owner to come and claim it. Historians claim that the chariot procession of Machindranath started around 1,300 years ago. According to legend, shortly after the procession began, the queen of the serpent king Karkotak developed an eye ailment. While searching for a healer, Karkotak mistook a farmer working in the fields for a physician and brought him to Taudaha, a wetland on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Frightened, the farmer prays to Machhindranath and rubs his hands on the soil to make an herbal paste. He offers it to Karkotak as medicine, and the paste cures the queen's eyes. Grateful, Karkotak rewards the farmer with a jewel-studded vest (bhoto) and returns him to the human world. The farmer begins wearing the bhoto while working in his fields. One day, a ghost in human form steals the vest. The farmer searches everywhere but cannot find it. Later, while attending the Machhindranath chariot festival, he sees the ghost wearing the same vest and claims it as his. When the ghost refuses to return it, a dispute breaks out. People summon Karkotak to resolve the conflict. In the end, because neither party can prove ownership, they entrust the bhoto to Machhindranath. Since then, devotees follow the tradition of displaying the bhoto after the chariot procession, hoping that someone with valid proof of ownership will come forward. Each year, they display the sacred vest on an auspicious date. According to legend, no one has succeeded in proving ownership of the bhoto so far.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12434140

1 June 2025

Priests take out the idol of Lord Rato Machhindranath, also known as the ''Red God,'' to transport it to the ancient city of Bungmati following the completion of the Bhoto Jatra Procession on June 1, 2025. The chariot procession of Rato Machhindranath, observed for at least one to four months, ends with the display of the 'Bhoto,' expecting the rightful owner to come and claim it. Historians claim that the chariot procession of Machindranath started around 1,300 years ago. According to legend, shortly after the procession began, the queen of the serpent king Karkotak developed an eye ailment. While searching for a healer, Karkotak mistook a farmer working in the fields for a physician and brought him to Taudaha, a wetland on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Frightened, the farmer prays to Machhindranath and rubs his hands on the soil to make an herbal paste. He offers it to Karkotak as medicine, and the paste cures the queen's eyes. Grateful, Karkotak rewards the farmer with a jewel-studded vest (bhoto) and returns him to the human world. The farmer begins wearing the bhoto while working in his fields. One day, a ghost in human form steals the vest. The farmer searches everywhere but cannot find it. Later, while attending the Machhindranath chariot festival, he sees the ghost wearing the same vest and claims it as his. When the ghost refuses to return it, a dispute breaks out. People summon Karkotak to resolve the conflict. In the end, because neither party can prove ownership, they entrust the bhoto to Machhindranath. Since then, devotees follow the tradition of displaying the bhoto after the chariot procession, hoping that someone with valid proof of ownership will come forward. Each year, they display the sacred vest on an auspicious date. According to legend, no one has succeeded in proving ownership of the bhoto so far.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#11411720

15 July 2024

God Of The Universe Lord Jagannath Is Seen On The Grand Procession As He Comes Out From The Gundicha Temple To Ride His Chariot To Returns Back Shree Jagannath Temple On The End Day Of The Nine Days Long Annual Rathyatra Festival Of Temple Ditties At Puri, 65 Km Away From The Eastern Indian State Odisha's Capital City Bhubaneswar, on july 15, 2024.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#11411721

15 July 2024

God Of The Universe Lord Jagannath Is Seen On The Grand Procession As He Comes Out From The Gundicha Temple To Ride His Chariot To Returns Back Shree Jagannath Temple On The End Day Of The Nine Days Long Annual Rathyatra Festival Of Temple Ditties At Puri, 65 Km Away From The Eastern Indian State Odisha's Capital City Bhubaneswar, on july 15, 2024.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#11411723

15 July 2024

God Of The Universe Lord Jagannath Is Seen On The Grand Procession As He Comes Out From The Gundicha Temple To Ride His Chariot To Returns Back Shree Jagannath Temple On The End Day Of The Nine Days Long Annual Rathyatra Festival Of Temple Ditties At Puri, 65 Km Away From The Eastern Indian State Odisha's Capital City Bhubaneswar, on july 15, 2024.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#11410833

15 July 2024

Devotees are taking part in a procession of Ulto Rath Yatra (Return Chariot Procession) in Siliguri, India, on July 15, 2024.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#11410834

15 July 2024

Devotees are taking part in a procession of Ulto Rath Yatra (Return Chariot Procession) in Siliguri, India, on July 15, 2024.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#11153229

16 April 2024

The idol of Lord Macchindranath is being pictured inside the temple before it is taken out to tour around Kathmandu, following its ascension over a skyscraping chariot, in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 16, 2024. The chariot procession, honoring the god of rain and also known as Jana Baha Dyah Jatra, involves pulling the skyscraping chariot of Seto Machindranath from place to place over the course of three days. Each day, when the chariot reaches its destination, a group of soldiers is firing their rifles into the air. According to myth, during the regime of Yakshya Malla, the King of Kantipur, people would bathe in a holy river and visit Swayambhunath, which was believed to grant the power to send people to heaven after death. When Yamraj, the God of Death, learned about the power of Swayambhunath and visited the holy temple, he was captured upon his return by King Yakshya Malla and his Guru, who possessed powers and demanded immortality. Unable to escape, Yama prayed to Arya Awalokiteshwor (Seto Machhindranath) to free him. The god heard his prayers and immediately appeared from the water, white in color with his eyes half-closed. He instructed the king to build a temple where the Kalmati and Bagmati rivers met and to organize a chariot procession so that the god could visit the people and bless them with contentment and long life. Since then, the three-day-long procession has been celebrated to honor the god.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#11153230

16 April 2024

Priests are leading and performing the rituals of Seto Machhindranath and are changing their clothes before starting the procession at Macchindrabahal, the home of Nepal's White God, in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 16, 2024. The chariot procession, honoring the god of rain, is also known as Jana Baha Dyah Jatra. A skyscraping chariot of Seto Machhindranath is being pulled from place to place during these three days. Each day, when the chariot reaches its terminus, a group of soldiers is firing their rifles into the air. According to myth, during the regime of Yakshya Malla, the King of Kantipur, people would bathe in a holy river and visit Swayambhunath, which was believed to possess the power of sending people to heaven after death. Once Yamraj, the God of Death, came to know about the power of Swayambhunath and visited the holy temple. At the time of his return from the temple, Yama was captured by King Yakshya Malla and his Guru, who possessed powers and demanded immortality. As the King and his Guru didn't let Yama escape, he prayed to Arya Awalokiteshwor (Seto Machhindranath) to free him. The god heard his prayers and immediately appeared from the water. The god was white in color with his eyes half-closed. He told the king to build a temple where the Kalmati and Bagmati rivers met and to organize a chariot procession so that the god could visit the people and bless them with contentment and long life. Since then, people have been celebrating this three-day-long procession to honor the god.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#11153231

16 April 2024

Nepali Hindu devotees are decorating and giving the final touches to the chariot of Seto Machhindranath before the formal start of the chariot procession in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 16, 2024. The chariot procession, which honors the god of rain, is also known as Jana Baha Dyah Jatra. During these three days, the towering chariot of Seto Machindranath is being pulled from one place to another. Each day, when the chariot reaches its destination, a group of soldiers is firing their rifles into the air. According to myth, during the regime of Yakshya Malla, the King of Kantipur, people would bathe in a holy river and visit Swayambhunath, believed to grant the power to send people to heaven after death. When Yamraj, the God of Death, learned about the power of Swayambhunath, he visited the holy temple. Upon his return, he was captured by King Yakshya Malla and his Guru, who demanded immortality. Unable to escape, Yamraj prayed to Arya Awalokiteshwor (Seto Machhindranath) for freedom. The god, appearing white in color with half-closed eyes, instructed the king to build a temple at the confluence of the Kalmati and Bagmati rivers and to organize a chariot procession so that he could visit the people and bless them with contentment and long life. Since then, the three-day-long procession has been celebrated to honor the god.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#11153232

16 April 2024

A Nepali Hindu devotee is arranging the mask of Lord Bhairab on the front edge of the towering chariot of Seto Machhindranath before the formal start of the chariot procession of the ''White God'' in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 16, 2024. The chariot procession, which honors the god of rain and is also known as Jana Baha Dyah Jatra, involves pulling the skyscraping chariot of Seto Machindranath from place to place over the course of three days. Each day, when the chariot reaches its destination, a group of soldiers is firing their rifles into the air. According to myth, during the reign of Yakshya Malla, the King of Kantipur, people would bathe in a holy river and visit Swayambhunath, which was believed to grant the power to send people to heaven after death. When Yamraj, the God of Death, learned about the power of Swayambhunath, he visited the holy temple. Upon his return from the temple, Yama was captured by King Yakshya Malla and his Guru, who possessed powers and demanded immortality. Unable to escape, Yama prayed to Arya Awalokiteshwor (Seto Machhindranath) to free him. The god heard his prayers and immediately appeared from the water, white in color with his eyes half-closed. He instructed the king to build a temple where the Kalmati and Bagmati rivers met and to organize a chariot procession so that the god could visit the people and bless them with contentment and long life. Since then, the three-day-long procession has been celebrated to honor the god.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#11153233

16 April 2024

Members of the younger generation from the Newa community, the indigenous people of the Kathmandu Valley, are playing traditional musical instruments in front of the chariot of Seto Machhindranath before the official start of the chariot procession in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 16, 2024. The procession, which honors the god of rain and is also known as Jana Baha Dyah Jatra, involves pulling the towering chariot of Seto Machindranath from one place to another over the course of three days. Each day, when the chariot reaches its destination, a group of soldiers is firing their rifles into the air. According to legend, during the reign of Yakshya Malla, the King of Kantipur, people would bathe in a holy river and visit Swayambhunath, which was believed to grant the power to send people to heaven after death. When Yamraj, the God of Death, learned about the power of Swayambhunath, he visited the holy temple. Upon his return, he was captured by King Yakshya Malla and his Guru, who demanded immortality. Unable to escape, Yamraj prayed to Arya Awalokiteshwor (Seto Machhindranath) for freedom. The god, appearing white in color with half-closed eyes, emerged from the water and instructed the king to build a temple at the confluence of the Kalmati and Bagmati rivers and to organize a chariot procession so that he could visit the people and bless them with happiness and longevity. Since then, this three-day-long procession has been celebrated to honor the god.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.