"Nepali devotee"

#13862469

21 Jun 2026

Nepali Army Gurju Paltan performs during the Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The ceremony 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; historians trace its origins to roughly 1,300 years ago. 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 attended by senior government officials, including Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun, alongside thousands of devotees.

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

#13862470

21 Jun 2026

Nepali Army Gurju Paltan performs during the Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The ceremony 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; historians trace its origins to roughly 1,300 years ago. 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 attended by senior government officials, including Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun, alongside thousands of devotees.

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

#13862471

21 Jun 2026

Nepali Army Gurju Paltan performs during the Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The ceremony 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; historians trace its origins to roughly 1,300 years ago. 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 attended by senior government officials, including Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun, alongside thousands of devotees.

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

#13862482

21 Jun 2026

Nepali Army Gurju Paltan performs during the Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The ceremony 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; historians trace its origins to roughly 1,300 years ago. 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 attended by senior government officials, including Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun, alongside thousands of devotees.

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

#13859916

21 Jun 2026

Nepali Army Gurju Paltan performs during the Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The ceremony 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; historians trace its origins to roughly 1,300 years ago. 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 attended by senior government officials, including Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun, alongside thousands of devotees.

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

#13859917

21 Jun 2026

Nepali Army Gurju Paltan performs during the Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The ceremony 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; historians trace its origins to roughly 1,300 years ago. 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 attended by senior government officials, including Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun, alongside thousands of devotees.

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

#13859918

21 Jun 2026

Nepali Army Gurju Paltan performs during the Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The ceremony 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; historians trace its origins to roughly 1,300 years ago. 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 attended by senior government officials, including Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun, alongside thousands of devotees.

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

#13859929

21 Jun 2026

Nepali Army Gurju Paltan performs during the Bhoto Jatra, the concluding ritual of the Rato Machhindranath Festival, in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026. The ceremony 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; historians trace its origins to roughly 1,300 years ago. 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 attended by senior government officials, including Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun, alongside thousands of devotees.

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

#13858697

20 Jun 2026

Nepali devotees light haystacks and carry straw torches as they participate in the procession welcoming the idol of the Rato Machhindranath Festival back to Bungamati, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026, after the completion of Bhoto Jatra in Jawalakhel. The ritual marks the final return journey of the rain deity to his temple, with fires lit along the route, especially near the Nakkhu bridge, as a symbolic gesture of devotion, purification, and protection. The procession is part of one of the longest and most significant Newar festivals in the Kathmandu Valley, where the towering wooden chariot of Rato Machhindranath is pulled through historic settlements including Pulchowk, Gabahal, Mangal Bazaar, Lagankhel, and Bungamati, requiring coordinated effort from local guthis and community groups. The festival concludes with Bhoto Jatra, the ceremonial display of the sacred jewel-studded vest (bhoto), a ritual rooted in legend. According to oral tradition, the bhoto is linked to serpent king Karkotak, who rewarded a farmer for curing the queen's eye ailment. After a dispute over ownership, the vest was entrusted to Machhindranath and has been publicly displayed each year for anyone with proof of ownership to claim it. Despite centuries of tradition, no claimant has ever successfully established ownership.

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

#13858698

20 Jun 2026

Nepali devotees light haystacks and carry straw torches as they participate in the procession welcoming the idol of the Rato Machhindranath Festival back to Bungamati, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026, after the completion of Bhoto Jatra in Jawalakhel. The ritual marks the final return journey of the rain deity to his temple, with fires lit along the route, especially near the Nakkhu bridge, as a symbolic gesture of devotion, purification, and protection. The procession is part of one of the longest and most significant Newar festivals in the Kathmandu Valley, where the towering wooden chariot of Rato Machhindranath is pulled through historic settlements including Pulchowk, Gabahal, Mangal Bazaar, Lagankhel, and Bungamati, requiring coordinated effort from local guthis and community groups. The festival concludes with Bhoto Jatra, the ceremonial display of the sacred jewel-studded vest (bhoto), a ritual rooted in legend. According to oral tradition, the bhoto is linked to serpent king Karkotak, who rewarded a farmer for curing the queen's eye ailment. After a dispute over ownership, the vest was entrusted to Machhindranath and has been publicly displayed each year for anyone with proof of ownership to claim it. Despite centuries of tradition, no claimant has ever successfully established ownership.

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

#13858699

20 Jun 2026

Nepali devotees light haystacks and carry straw torches as they participate in the procession welcoming the idol of the Rato Machhindranath Festival back to Bungamati, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026, after the completion of Bhoto Jatra in Jawalakhel. The ritual marks the final return journey of the rain deity to his temple, with fires lit along the route, especially near the Nakkhu bridge, as a symbolic gesture of devotion, purification, and protection. The procession is part of one of the longest and most significant Newar festivals in the Kathmandu Valley, where the towering wooden chariot of Rato Machhindranath is pulled through historic settlements including Pulchowk, Gabahal, Mangal Bazaar, Lagankhel, and Bungamati, requiring coordinated effort from local guthis and community groups. The festival concludes with Bhoto Jatra, the ceremonial display of the sacred jewel-studded vest (bhoto), a ritual rooted in legend. According to oral tradition, the bhoto is linked to serpent king Karkotak, who rewarded a farmer for curing the queen's eye ailment. After a dispute over ownership, the vest was entrusted to Machhindranath and has been publicly displayed each year for anyone with proof of ownership to claim it. Despite centuries of tradition, no claimant has ever successfully established ownership.

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

#13858700

20 Jun 2026

Nepali devotees light haystacks and carry straw torches as they participate in the procession welcoming the idol of the Rato Machhindranath Festival back to Bungamati, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026, after the completion of Bhoto Jatra in Jawalakhel. The ritual marks the final return journey of the rain deity to his temple, with fires lit along the route, especially near the Nakkhu bridge, as a symbolic gesture of devotion, purification, and protection. The procession is part of one of the longest and most significant Newar festivals in the Kathmandu Valley, where the towering wooden chariot of Rato Machhindranath is pulled through historic settlements including Pulchowk, Gabahal, Mangal Bazaar, Lagankhel, and Bungamati, requiring coordinated effort from local guthis and community groups. The festival concludes with Bhoto Jatra, the ceremonial display of the sacred jewel-studded vest (bhoto), a ritual rooted in legend. According to oral tradition, the bhoto is linked to serpent king Karkotak, who rewarded a farmer for curing the queen's eye ailment. After a dispute over ownership, the vest was entrusted to Machhindranath and has been publicly displayed each year for anyone with proof of ownership to claim it. Despite centuries of tradition, no claimant has ever successfully established ownership.

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

#13858701

20 Jun 2026

Nepali devotees light haystacks and carry straw torches as they participate in the procession welcoming the idol of the Rato Machhindranath Festival back to Bungamati, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026, after the completion of Bhoto Jatra in Jawalakhel. The ritual marks the final return journey of the rain deity to his temple, with fires lit along the route, especially near the Nakkhu bridge, as a symbolic gesture of devotion, purification, and protection. The procession is part of one of the longest and most significant Newar festivals in the Kathmandu Valley, where the towering wooden chariot of Rato Machhindranath is pulled through historic settlements including Pulchowk, Gabahal, Mangal Bazaar, Lagankhel, and Bungamati, requiring coordinated effort from local guthis and community groups. The festival concludes with Bhoto Jatra, the ceremonial display of the sacred jewel-studded vest (bhoto), a ritual rooted in legend. According to oral tradition, the bhoto is linked to serpent king Karkotak, who rewarded a farmer for curing the queen's eye ailment. After a dispute over ownership, the vest was entrusted to Machhindranath and has been publicly displayed each year for anyone with proof of ownership to claim it. Despite centuries of tradition, no claimant has ever successfully established ownership.

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

#13858702

20 Jun 2026

Nepali devotees light haystacks and carry straw torches as they participate in the procession welcoming the idol of the Rato Machhindranath Festival back to Bungamati, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026, after the completion of Bhoto Jatra in Jawalakhel. The ritual marks the final return journey of the rain deity to his temple, with fires lit along the route, especially near the Nakkhu bridge, as a symbolic gesture of devotion, purification, and protection. The procession is part of one of the longest and most significant Newar festivals in the Kathmandu Valley, where the towering wooden chariot of Rato Machhindranath is pulled through historic settlements including Pulchowk, Gabahal, Mangal Bazaar, Lagankhel, and Bungamati, requiring coordinated effort from local guthis and community groups. The festival concludes with Bhoto Jatra, the ceremonial display of the sacred jewel-studded vest (bhoto), a ritual rooted in legend. According to oral tradition, the bhoto is linked to serpent king Karkotak, who rewarded a farmer for curing the queen's eye ailment. After a dispute over ownership, the vest was entrusted to Machhindranath and has been publicly displayed each year for anyone with proof of ownership to claim it. Despite centuries of tradition, no claimant has ever successfully established ownership.

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

#13858703

20 Jun 2026

Nepali devotees light haystacks and carry straw torches as they participate in the procession welcoming the idol of the Rato Machhindranath Festival back to Bungamati, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026, after the completion of Bhoto Jatra in Jawalakhel. The ritual marks the final return journey of the rain deity to his temple, with fires lit along the route, especially near the Nakkhu bridge, as a symbolic gesture of devotion, purification, and protection. The procession is part of one of the longest and most significant Newar festivals in the Kathmandu Valley, where the towering wooden chariot of Rato Machhindranath is pulled through historic settlements including Pulchowk, Gabahal, Mangal Bazaar, Lagankhel, and Bungamati, requiring coordinated effort from local guthis and community groups. The festival concludes with Bhoto Jatra, the ceremonial display of the sacred jewel-studded vest (bhoto), a ritual rooted in legend. According to oral tradition, the bhoto is linked to serpent king Karkotak, who rewarded a farmer for curing the queen's eye ailment. After a dispute over ownership, the vest was entrusted to Machhindranath and has been publicly displayed each year for anyone with proof of ownership to claim it. Despite centuries of tradition, no claimant has ever successfully established ownership.

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

#13858705

20 Jun 2026

Nepali devotees light haystacks and carry straw torches as they participate in the procession welcoming the idol of the Rato Machhindranath Festival back to Bungamati, Lalitpur, on June 20, 2026, after the completion of Bhoto Jatra in Jawalakhel. The ritual marks the final return journey of the rain deity to his temple, with fires lit along the route, especially near the Nakkhu bridge, as a symbolic gesture of devotion, purification, and protection. The procession is part of one of the longest and most significant Newar festivals in the Kathmandu Valley, where the towering wooden chariot of Rato Machhindranath is pulled through historic settlements including Pulchowk, Gabahal, Mangal Bazaar, Lagankhel, and Bungamati, requiring coordinated effort from local guthis and community groups. The festival concludes with Bhoto Jatra, the ceremonial display of the sacred jewel-studded vest (bhoto), a ritual rooted in legend. According to oral tradition, the bhoto is linked to serpent king Karkotak, who rewarded a farmer for curing the queen's eye ailment. After a dispute over ownership, the vest was entrusted to Machhindranath and has been publicly displayed each year for anyone with proof of ownership to claim it. Despite centuries of tradition, no claimant has ever successfully established ownership.

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