The idol of Rato Machhindranath was placed on the chariot on Wednesday.
The idol was ceremonially removed from its temple in Machhindra Bahal, Lalitpur on the auspicious time of 4 pm, taken to the Jogambar Pith at Pulchowk, and placed on the 32-feet-tall chariot which is under construction there at 5 pm, informed Mohan Byanjankar, second vice president of Jyapu Samaj.
Jyapu Samaj is one of the main bodies responsible for managing the festival. At Machhindra Bahal, water brought from Katuwaldaha, Pharp-ing was offered to Lord Machhindranath.
A person acting as the representative of King Narendradev, the fabled king believed to have brought the lord to the valley, arrived to worship the god also known as Karunamaya.
Then, the statue, accompanied by priests, was taken to Pulchowk in a palanquin and was put on the chariot. According to Byanjankar, only the most essential rituals were carried out in presence of a minimum number of people because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the government’s health protocol was observed with the present individuals maintaining social distancing and everyone wearing masks.
The chariot, with the god seated inside, will be pulled from Pulcho-wk on Saturday and taken around the settlements of Patan, stopping at Gabahal, Mangalbazaar, Sundhara, Chakrabahil, Lagankhel, and Jawalakhel.
The Rato Machhindranath Jatra is known as the longest chariot festival of the country. Jyapu Samaj stated that the Jatra would be observed with safety precautions in place.
It informed that crowds would not be allowed to gather around the chariot or watch the procession on the streets, only 150 people will pull the chariot to its destination and everyone will be given masks, face shields, and sanitisers.
Chief District Officer Dhundi Prasad Niroula had earlier told The Rising Nepal that the decision to proceed with the festival had been taken keeping traditions and culture in mind. It is also worth noting that the Jatra is starting amidst the prohibitory order imposed in Kathman-du Valley to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
Rato Machhindranath is considered the god of rain and good harvest and is worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists under various names like Padyapani Lokeshwor, Loknath, Raktawalokiteshwor, and Aryavalokiteshwor.
There was confusion regarding the organisation of the Jatra last year resulting in a clash on September 3 when locals started pulling the chariots of Machhindranath and Minnath without approval from the local administration or coordination with the related community organisations.
Source : THE RISING NEPAL,
