God of Rain and Prosperity, “Rato Machchhindranath” chariot festival celebrated every year at Patan city in the month of April-May. It starts by placing the Idol of Rato Machchhindranath God inside the local/traditionally built 60 feet tall chariot. It is celebrated just before the monsoon season, hoping the city will get plenty of rainfall for good growth of crops. The locals pull the chariot of
God around the city for about a month. The wheeled chariot of deity, also known as "Bungdyo" is made at Pulchowk and dragged through the city of Patan is several stages till it reaches the final destination. The grand finale of the festival is called "Bhoto Dekhaune" or the public display of a vest. Both Hindus and Buddhists of Nepal worship the Legendary God “Rato Machchhindra Nath”. Hindus regard him as the disciple of the Lord Shiva from the Nath civilization, while the Buddhists regard him as the Ta***ic incarnation of Avalokiteshvara. It is believed that because of this Nath civilization; our country is considered as auspicious land and known as “Dev Bhumi” (Land of Gods).
रातो मच्छिन्द्रनाथ काठमाडौं उपत्यकामा वर्षा र सहकालका देवताका रूपमा प्रख्यात छन् । अन्नका देवता, सहकालका देवता, लोकेश्वर, बुंगद्य अनेकौं नामले प्रख्यात रातो मच्छिन्द्रनाथ लिच्छविकालतिर देशभर अनिकाल र खडेरी लाग्दा मच्छिन्द्रनाथको प्रवेशले सहकाल ल्याएको र पानी पारेर लोककल्याण कार्य गरेको स्मरणमा प्रत्येकवर्ष वैशाख कृष्ण प्रतिपदादेखि लोकेश्वर अर्थात् रातो मच्छिन्द्रनाथको रथयात्रा गर्ने परम्परा रहिआएको छ ।रातो मच्छिन्द्रनाथ रथयात्रा नेपालकै सबैभन्दा लामो जात्रा मानिन्छ । ललितपुरमा मनाइने यो जात्राले लिच्छवीकालदेखि निरन्तर चल्दै आएको छ । जात्रा अवधिभर ललितपुरका साथै काठमाडौं र भक्तपुर तीनै सहरका भक्तजनको ओइरो लाग्ने गर्छ ।
