Kathmandu, March 29. The Seto Machhindranath Jatra festival in Kathmandu entered its second day on Thursday, as the grand chariot continued its procession through the city. The festival is dedicated to the divine force of rain, and the chariot parade is considered one of the most significant events in the city’s cultural calendar.

On the second day of the Jatra, the chariot was pulled from Ason Chowk to Balkumari, Kel Tole, Indra Chowk, and Maakhan. It finally rested in front of the Kal Bhairav deity in Hanuman Dhoka of Kathmandu Durbar Square. Traditional musical bands accompanied the procession, as devotees gathered along the route to pay their respects and make offerings to the “Janbaha Dyo” deity residing in the chariot.

The chariot itself is a ten-story structure, with each story representing the abode of different gods. It is supported by four huge wheels, each representing a separate icon of Bhairav, the lord of hostility. The parade is led by special Bajracharya priests, who are responsible for regularly worshiping and maintaining the deity and the temple.

The Seto Machhindranath Jatra festival is believed to mark the end of winter and the beginning of the spring season, with the arrival of the new season requiring rain for upcoming plantations and harvest. As such, the festival is considered vital for ensuring a prosperous agricultural season for the year ahead.

After the procession reached Hanuman Dhoka, the chariot was rested for the night, and devotees continued to pay their respects to the deity. The festival will continue for three more days. On Friday, the chariot proceeds through Maru and Chikan Mugal to Lagan.  The chariot returned to Janbaha on the final day after a special puja.

The chariot is dismantled after the Jatra, and its rebuilding process starts ten days before the next Chaite Dashain festival. The Seto Machhindranath Jatra is a significant cultural event in Kathmandu, bringing together devotees from all walks of life to celebrate the divine force of rain and usher in the new agricultural season.

All Photos: Simon Paudel/ DC Nepal