Every year in Lalitpur, the Newari people build a giant chariot for the Rato Machhindranath and parade it through the city for a month. At the end of the procession, they hold the Bhoto Jatra festival.

The Rato Macchindranath is the god of rain (rato meaning “red”, macchindra meaning something like “fish”, and nath meaning “god”). They build the chariot for him and pull him through the city before the rainy season so they will have good rain. Hasn’t worked too well this year.

The chariot, although I’m a horrible judge of length, is maybe 40 or 50 feet high. It fell over this year (not all that uncommon) which prolonged the procession. Hundreds of people come out to pull it. They say if you die while pulling it you go straight to heaven and skip reincarnation.

It takes them a couple weeks to build it. It is built by hand and tied together. No nails; maybe why it falls over!

The Bhoto Jatra (bhoto meaning “shirt”, and jatra meaning “festival”) is the end festival where the “bhoto” is presented. As the story goes, a farmer back in the day lost his vest. The Rato Machhindranath is holding it until the proper owner comes to claim it. Each year they present the jewel-encrusted vest to the crowd for the owner to claim it. Of course, no one does. It is a bit tempting to raise your hand and scream, “Oho! Mero bhoto!” But alas, I wasn’t there for the presentation.

During the festival the people give up offerings to the god of rice and bananas, among other things. They also light candles (and trash, it seemed) in front of the chariot. All in hopes of appeasing the Rato Machhindranath so he will grant them good rain.