The “Rato” or Red Machhendranath Festival is celebrated in Patan, Kathmandu during the period April – May just before the monsoon as an offering to the deities responsible for a good rainfall and consequently good harvest.
The legend of the Red Machhendranath orginates from the story of Guru Goraknath being not well treated by the residents of Patan, in anger he captures all the rain giving serpents. A big drought follows this unfortunate happening. The King of Patan is counselled to invite Machhendranath his teacher, when Guru Goraknath hears that his teacher is hosted in Patan, all the serpents are released and the region once again receives bountiful rain.
The image of Red Machhendranath Bunga Dyah resides six months at the Machhendranath a 16th Century temple in Patan and is taken in a procession on a chariot constructed of wood and vines to Bungamati a nearby town 10kms away to reside there for the next 6 months. It is a most fascinating sight to see the chariot being pulled and watch residents nearby come to make offering. On the final day of the festival a bejewelled vest is shown by a Government official to the crowd of onlookers.
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