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#13862481

21 Jun 2026

Nepal Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel attends Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The event marks the formal end of the chariot procession honoring Rato Machhindranath, the rain deity revered by both Hindu and Buddhist communities across the Kathmandu Valley. The festival, one of Nepal's longest-running religious traditions, lasts from one to four months depending on lunar cycles and local rituals, with origins traced back roughly 1,300 years. Bhoto Jatra centers on the public display of a jewel-studded vest (bhoto). According to legend, the vest was given to a grateful farmer by serpent king Karkotak after the farmer cured the queen's eye ailment with a medicinal paste prepared at Taudaha; a later dispute over ownership placed the vest in Machhindranath's care. Each year, the vest is shown from the chariot as an invitation for anyone with valid proof of ownership to come forward; no claimant has ever successfully proven ownership. The 2026 ceremony is also attended by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun, alongside thousands of devotees, underscoring the event's enduring cultural significance.

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#13862483

21 Jun 2026

Nepal Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari attends Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The event marks the formal end of the chariot procession honoring Rato Machhindranath, the rain deity revered by both Hindu and Buddhist communities across the Kathmandu Valley. The festival, one of Nepal's longest-running religious traditions, lasts from one to four months depending on lunar cycles and local rituals, with origins traced back roughly 1,300 years. Bhoto Jatra centers on the public display of a jewel-studded vest (bhoto). According to legend, the vest was given to a farmer by serpent king Karkotak after the farmer cured the queen's eye ailment with a medicinal paste prepared at Taudaha; a later dispute over ownership placed the vest in Machhindranath's care. Each year, the vest is shown from the chariot as an invitation for anyone with valid proof of ownership to come forward; no claimant has ever successfully proven ownership. The 2026 ceremony is also attended by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun, alongside thousands of devotees, highlighting the event's enduring cultural significance.

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#13862491

21 Jun 2026

The Chief Justice of Nepal, Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma, attends Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. This event marks the formal end of the chariot procession honoring Rato Machhindranath, the rain deity revered by both Hindu and Buddhist communities across the Kathmandu Valley. The festival, one of Nepal's longest-running religious traditions, lasts from one to four months depending on lunar cycles and local rituals, with origins traced back roughly 1,300 years. Bhoto Jatra centers on the public display of a jewel-studded vest (bhoto). According to legend, the vest was given to a grateful farmer by serpent king Karkotak after the farmer cured the queen's eye ailment with a medicinal paste prepared at Taudaha; a later dispute over ownership placed the vest in Machhindranath's care. Each year, the vest is shown from the chariot as an invitation for anyone with valid proof of ownership to come forward; no claimant has ever successfully proven ownership. The 2026 ceremony is also attended by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun, alongside thousands of devotees, underscoring the event's enduring cultural significance.

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#13862494

21 Jun 2026

Vice President of Nepal, Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, attends Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The event marks the formal end of the chariot procession honoring Rato Machhindranath, the rain deity revered by both Hindu and Buddhist communities across the Kathmandu Valley. The festival, one of Nepal's longest-running religious traditions, lasts from one to four months depending on lunar cycles and local rituals, with origins traced back roughly 1,300 years. Bhoto Jatra centers on the public display of a jewel-studded vest (bhoto). According to legend, the vest was given to a grateful farmer by serpent king Karkotak after the farmer cured the queen's eye ailment with a medicinal paste prepared at Taudaha; a later dispute over ownership placed the vest in Machhindranath's care. Each year, the vest is shown from the chariot as an invitation for anyone with valid proof of ownership to come forward; no claimant has ever successfully proven ownership. The 2026 ceremony is also attended by President Ram Chandra Paudel, Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun, alongside thousands of devotees, underscoring the event's enduring cultural significance.

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#13862495

21 Jun 2026

President of Nepal, Ram Chandra Paudel, attends Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The event marks the formal end of the chariot procession honoring Rato Machhindranath, the rain deity revered by both Hindu and Buddhist communities across the Kathmandu Valley. The festival, one of Nepal's longest-running religious traditions, lasts from one to four months depending on lunar cycles and local rituals, with origins traced back roughly 1,300 years. Bhoto Jatra centers on the public display of a jewel-studded vest (bhoto). According to legend, the vest was given to a farmer by serpent king Karkotak after the farmer cured the queen's eye ailment with a medicinal paste prepared at Taudaha; a later dispute over ownership placed the vest in Machhindranath's care. Each year, the vest is shown from the chariot as an invitation for anyone with valid proof of ownership to come forward; no claimant has ever successfully proven ownership. The 2026 ceremony is also attended by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun, alongside thousands of devotees, highlighting the event's enduring cultural significance.

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#13862496

21 Jun 2026

President of Nepal, Ram Chandra Paudel, attends Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The event marks the formal end of the chariot procession honoring Rato Machhindranath, the rain deity revered by both Hindu and Buddhist communities across the Kathmandu Valley. The festival, one of Nepal's longest-running religious traditions, lasts from one to four months depending on lunar cycles and local rituals, with origins traced back roughly 1,300 years. Bhoto Jatra centers on the public display of a jewel-studded vest (bhoto). According to legend, the vest was given to a farmer by serpent king Karkotak after the farmer cured the queen's eye ailment with a medicinal paste prepared at Taudaha; a later dispute over ownership placed the vest in Machhindranath's care. Each year, the vest is shown from the chariot as an invitation for anyone with valid proof of ownership to come forward; no claimant has ever successfully proven ownership. The 2026 ceremony is also attended by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun, alongside thousands of devotees, highlighting the event's enduring cultural significance.

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#13862497

21 Jun 2026

A Guthi Sansthan official displays a traditional ornamental vest (bhoto) during Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The ceremony marks the culmination of the chariot procession, a centuries-old tradition that lasts from one month to as long as four months depending on the lunar calendar, local rituals, and community obligations. Historians trace the origins of the Machhindranath chariot procession back around 1,300 years, making it one of the oldest continuous festivals in the Kathmandu Valley. According to legend, serpent king Karkotak's queen was cured of an eye ailment after a farmer--mistaken for a healer--offered a medicinal paste made from soil and prayer at Taudaha. In gratitude, the farmer was gifted a jewel-studded vest (bhoto), which later became the center of a dispute involving a supernatural being. Unable to determine rightful ownership, the vest was eventually entrusted to Machhindranath. Since then, Bhoto Jatra has been observed annually, with the vest publicly displayed from the chariot, symbolically inviting anyone with valid proof of ownership to come forward. Despite centuries of tradition, no claimant has ever successfully proven ownership, reinforcing the bhoto's enduring mystery and sacred significance in the cultural memory of the Kathmandu Valley. The ceremony is attended by senior government officials, including Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, Mahabir Pun, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, and thousands of devotees, reflecting its continued importance as one of Nepal's most significant religious and cultural events.

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#13862498

21 Jun 2026

A Guthi Sansthan official displays a traditional ornamental vest (bhoto) during Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The ceremony marks the culmination of the chariot procession, a centuries-old tradition that lasts from one month to as long as four months depending on the lunar calendar, local rituals, and community obligations. Historians trace the origins of the Machhindranath chariot procession back around 1,300 years, making it one of the oldest continuous festivals in the Kathmandu Valley. According to legend, serpent king Karkotak's queen was cured of an eye ailment after a farmer--mistaken for a healer--offered a medicinal paste made from soil and prayer at Taudaha. In gratitude, the farmer was gifted a jewel-studded vest (bhoto), which later became the center of a dispute involving a supernatural being. Unable to determine rightful ownership, the vest was eventually entrusted to Machhindranath. Since then, Bhoto Jatra has been observed annually, with the vest publicly displayed from the chariot, symbolically inviting anyone with valid proof of ownership to come forward. Despite centuries of tradition, no claimant has ever successfully proven ownership, reinforcing the bhoto's enduring mystery and sacred significance in the cultural memory of the Kathmandu Valley. The ceremony is attended by senior government officials, including Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, Mahabir Pun, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, and thousands of devotees, reflecting its continued importance as one of Nepal's most significant religious and cultural events.

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#13862499

21 Jun 2026

A Guthi Sansthan official displays a traditional ornamental vest (bhoto) during Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The ceremony marks the culmination of the chariot procession, a centuries-old tradition that lasts from one month to as long as four months depending on the lunar calendar, local rituals, and community obligations. Historians trace the origins of the Machhindranath chariot procession back around 1,300 years, making it one of the oldest continuous festivals in the Kathmandu Valley. According to legend, serpent king Karkotak's queen was cured of an eye ailment after a farmer--mistaken for a healer--offered a medicinal paste made from soil and prayer at Taudaha. In gratitude, the farmer was gifted a jewel-studded vest (bhoto), which later became the center of a dispute involving a supernatural being. Unable to determine rightful ownership, the vest was eventually entrusted to Machhindranath. Since then, Bhoto Jatra has been observed annually, with the vest publicly displayed from the chariot, symbolically inviting anyone with valid proof of ownership to come forward. Despite centuries of tradition, no claimant has ever successfully proven ownership, reinforcing the bhoto's enduring mystery and sacred significance in the cultural memory of the Kathmandu Valley. The ceremony is attended by senior government officials, including Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, Mahabir Pun, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, and thousands of devotees, reflecting its continued importance as one of Nepal's most significant religious and cultural events.

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#13862500

21 Jun 2026

A Guthi Sansthan official displays a traditional ornamental vest (bhoto) during Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The ceremony marks the culmination of the chariot procession, a centuries-old tradition that lasts from one month to as long as four months depending on the lunar calendar, local rituals, and community obligations. Historians trace the origins of the Machhindranath chariot procession back around 1,300 years, making it one of the oldest continuous festivals in the Kathmandu Valley. According to legend, serpent king Karkotak's queen was cured of an eye ailment after a farmer--mistaken for a healer--offered a medicinal paste made from soil and prayer at Taudaha. In gratitude, the farmer was gifted a jewel-studded vest (bhoto), which later became the center of a dispute involving a supernatural being. Unable to determine rightful ownership, the vest was eventually entrusted to Machhindranath. Since then, Bhoto Jatra has been observed annually, with the vest publicly displayed from the chariot, symbolically inviting anyone with valid proof of ownership to come forward. Despite centuries of tradition, no claimant has ever successfully proven ownership, reinforcing the bhoto's enduring mystery and sacred significance in the cultural memory of the Kathmandu Valley. The ceremony is attended by senior government officials, including Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, Mahabir Pun, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, and thousands of devotees, reflecting its continued importance as one of Nepal's most significant religious and cultural events.

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#13862501

21 Jun 2026

A Guthi Sansthan official displays a traditional ornamental vest (bhoto) during Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The ceremony marks the culmination of the chariot procession, a centuries-old tradition that lasts from one month to as long as four months depending on the lunar calendar, local rituals, and community obligations. Historians trace the origins of the Machhindranath chariot procession back around 1,300 years, making it one of the oldest continuous festivals in the Kathmandu Valley. According to legend, serpent king Karkotak's queen was cured of an eye ailment after a farmer--mistaken for a healer--offered a medicinal paste made from soil and prayer at Taudaha. In gratitude, the farmer was gifted a jewel-studded vest (bhoto), which later became the center of a dispute involving a supernatural being. Unable to determine rightful ownership, the vest was eventually entrusted to Machhindranath. Since then, Bhoto Jatra has been observed annually, with the vest publicly displayed from the chariot, symbolically inviting anyone with valid proof of ownership to come forward. Despite centuries of tradition, no claimant has ever successfully proven ownership, reinforcing the bhoto's enduring mystery and sacred significance in the cultural memory of the Kathmandu Valley. The ceremony is attended by senior government officials, including Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, Mahabir Pun, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, and thousands of devotees, reflecting its continued importance as one of Nepal's most significant religious and cultural events.

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#13862502

21 Jun 2026

A Guthi Sansthan official displays a traditional ornamental vest (bhoto) during Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The ceremony marks the culmination of the chariot procession, a centuries-old tradition that lasts from one month to as long as four months depending on the lunar calendar, local rituals, and community obligations. Historians trace the origins of the Machhindranath chariot procession back around 1,300 years, making it one of the oldest continuous festivals in the Kathmandu Valley. According to legend, serpent king Karkotak's queen was cured of an eye ailment after a farmer--mistaken for a healer--offered a medicinal paste made from soil and prayer at Taudaha. In gratitude, the farmer was gifted a jewel-studded vest (bhoto), which later became the center of a dispute involving a supernatural being. Unable to determine rightful ownership, the vest was eventually entrusted to Machhindranath. Since then, Bhoto Jatra has been observed annually, with the vest publicly displayed from the chariot, symbolically inviting anyone with valid proof of ownership to come forward. Despite centuries of tradition, no claimant has ever successfully proven ownership, reinforcing the bhoto's enduring mystery and sacred significance in the cultural memory of the Kathmandu Valley. The ceremony is attended by senior government officials, including Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, Mahabir Pun, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, and thousands of devotees, reflecting its continued importance as one of Nepal's most significant religious and cultural events.

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#13862503

21 Jun 2026

A Guthi Sansthan official displays a traditional ornamental vest (bhoto) during Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The ceremony marks the culmination of the chariot procession, a centuries-old tradition that lasts from one month to as long as four months depending on the lunar calendar, local rituals, and community obligations. Historians trace the origins of the Machhindranath chariot procession back around 1,300 years, making it one of the oldest continuous festivals in the Kathmandu Valley. According to legend, serpent king Karkotak's queen was cured of an eye ailment after a farmer--mistaken for a healer--offered a medicinal paste made from soil and prayer at Taudaha. In gratitude, the farmer was gifted a jewel-studded vest (bhoto), which later became the center of a dispute involving a supernatural being. Unable to determine rightful ownership, the vest was eventually entrusted to Machhindranath. Since then, Bhoto Jatra has been observed annually, with the vest publicly displayed from the chariot, symbolically inviting anyone with valid proof of ownership to come forward. Despite centuries of tradition, no claimant has ever successfully proven ownership, reinforcing the bhoto's enduring mystery and sacred significance in the cultural memory of the Kathmandu Valley. The ceremony is attended by senior government officials, including Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, Mahabir Pun, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, and thousands of devotees, reflecting its continued importance as one of Nepal's most significant religious and cultural events.

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#13862509

21 Jun 2026

President of Nepal, Ram Chandra Paudel, attends Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The event marks the formal end of the chariot procession honoring Rato Machhindranath, the rain deity revered by both Hindu and Buddhist communities across the Kathmandu Valley. The festival, one of Nepal's longest-running religious traditions, lasts from one to four months depending on lunar cycles and local rituals, with origins traced back roughly 1,300 years. Bhoto Jatra centers on the public display of a jewel-studded vest (bhoto). According to legend, the vest was given to a farmer by serpent king Karkotak after the farmer cured the queen's eye ailment with a medicinal paste prepared at Taudaha; a later dispute over ownership placed the vest in Machhindranath's care. Each year, the vest is shown from the chariot as an invitation for anyone with valid proof of ownership to come forward; no claimant has ever successfully proven ownership. The 2026 ceremony is also attended by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun, alongside thousands of devotees, highlighting the event's enduring cultural significance.

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#13859928

21 Jun 2026

Nepal Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel attends Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The event marks the formal end of the chariot procession honoring Rato Machhindranath, the rain deity revered by both Hindu and Buddhist communities across the Kathmandu Valley. The festival, one of Nepal's longest-running religious traditions, lasts from one to four months depending on lunar cycles and local rituals, with origins traced back roughly 1,300 years. Bhoto Jatra centers on the public display of a jewel-studded vest (bhoto). According to legend, the vest was given to a grateful farmer by serpent king Karkotak after the farmer cured the queen's eye ailment with a medicinal paste prepared at Taudaha; a later dispute over ownership placed the vest in Machhindranath's care. Each year, the vest is shown from the chariot as an invitation for anyone with valid proof of ownership to come forward; no claimant has ever successfully proven ownership. The 2026 ceremony is also attended by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun, alongside thousands of devotees, underscoring the event's enduring cultural significance.

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#13859930

21 Jun 2026

Nepal Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari attends Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The event marks the formal end of the chariot procession honoring Rato Machhindranath, the rain deity revered by both Hindu and Buddhist communities across the Kathmandu Valley. The festival, one of Nepal's longest-running religious traditions, lasts from one to four months depending on lunar cycles and local rituals, with origins traced back roughly 1,300 years. Bhoto Jatra centers on the public display of a jewel-studded vest (bhoto). According to legend, the vest was given to a farmer by serpent king Karkotak after the farmer cured the queen's eye ailment with a medicinal paste prepared at Taudaha; a later dispute over ownership placed the vest in Machhindranath's care. Each year, the vest is shown from the chariot as an invitation for anyone with valid proof of ownership to come forward; no claimant has ever successfully proven ownership. The 2026 ceremony is also attended by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun, alongside thousands of devotees, highlighting the event's enduring cultural significance.

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