Despite wishing for less rain in UK, the Nepalese pull a 30ft tall chariot through Patan, honouring the Rain God and praying for epic monsoon rain!!

Whilst I was in Nepal last month, there was the festival for the Rain God in Patan - where a 30 foot tall chariot is constructed and then processed through the streets in the old town.  It is pulled along by rope by many people, which seems quite a hard task!

I have seen this chariot at various times during my visits to Nepal, and thought it looked like a giant christmas tree!  Once I even got stuck on my cycle with the procession coming towards me, with crowds of people and the massive chariot which I got stuck amongst and eventually managed to find a side road to escape the hoards of people!

Actually it celebrates: "....the happiness of heavy shower at a time when famine took place in Kantipur, according to a legend......

....Rato Machchhindranath is considered both a Hindu and Buddhist god, who by legend was brought from Assam (India) during the reign of Lichchavi King Narendra Dev, by a farmer to Lalitpur valley in Nepal to prevent a drought during the rice season.................The longest running chariot festival in Nepal recreates this event in hope for good rain. It begins with the construction of the chariot in Pulchowk, Lalitpur and ends with the Bhoto Jatra festival in Jawalakhel....... It is celebrated by Buddhists and Hindus of Newar community. It is celebrated by pulling the chariot to different places in the town of Patan."

So the festival happens annually in April/May before the monsoon arrives in Kathmandu, which is necessary in the rural areas for farming, but also for the hydro power sources, which currently means a little bit more electricity, and less load shedding around the valley (fingers crossed!) - as usually power shortage is reduced from up to 12 hrs a day to sometimes around 6 hours without power. Well, every little helps!

Read more: http://www.yalamandu.com/2012/04/bundyo-rato-matsyendranath-jaatra.html#ixzz1va4IYyXq

Posted via email from AURA QUE