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Rato Machhindranath Jatra
(Begins on the full moon day of Baisakh)
This is the
longest as well as the most important festival of Patan. It begins with
several days of ceremonies and the fabrication of a wooden-wheeled
chariot at Pulchowk, near the Ashoka Stupa. The chariot bears the
shrine of the Rato (Red) Macchendranath (the Tantric expression of
Lokeshwar) and carries a very tall spire fabricated from " bamboo poles
raised from four ends of the chariot. This unwieldy spire is around 10
meters tall and on account of which, the chariot balances precariously.
It is said that calamity is certain to strike the land in the event of
the chariot overturning or breaking down during the course of this festival. (Quite often, it does collapse!).Following
the construction, the chariot is towed through the streets of Patan by
throngs of devotees every day. Each day, it is put to rest in one of
the many venerated spots in the city.This goes on for a month until it
comes to rest on the big field outside the zoo and end with the Bhoto
Jatra, another major festival, during which the bejewelled 'bhoto' of
Machhendranath is displayed to the public.
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