Rato Matsyendranath's Rath Yatra begins (Photo Feature)

Saroj Basnet

Kathmandu: The Rath Yatra, the longest festival of the Kathmandu valley, of the Rato Matsyendranath, commenced today.

Rato Matsyendranath is known as the God of rain and weather. The deity of the Rato Matsyendranath is placed in the chariot on the day of Baisakh Shukla Pratipada.

Gaudan and Shanti Swasti are performed on the day of the Akshaya Tritiya. And the Rath Yatra begins on the Chaturthi Tithi.
It is believed that the chariot procession, around Lalitpur, began around 1600 years ago to make the people get the blessings of Rato Matsyendranath, also known as the Shree Padmapani Avalokiteshwor.

The procession reaches Jawalakhel by passing through Pulchowk, Gabahal, Sundhara, and Lagankhel. The procession concludes after displaying the photo to the public on the Jawalakhel.

Then, the deity of Matsyendranath is placed in Bungmati. The deity is kept in the Bungmati during the Surya Uttarayan (12 pakshas, i.e., 6 months) and Surya Dakshinayan (rest of the 12 pakshas, i.e., 6 months).

Rato Matsyendranath mounted in Chariot (Photo Feature)

Bungamati is located in the Northern direction of Patan, and Patan is in the Southern direction from Bungamati. Hence, the residence of Shree Karunamaya Rato Matsyendranath changes every 6 months. The deity stays for 6 months in Patan and 6 months in Bungmati.

There is a religious belief that Lichhavi King Jaya Dev II brought Rato Matsyendranath from Kamarup of Assam. People also worship Rato Matsyendranath as the Raktavalokiteshwor, Bungamalokeshwor, Machhindranath, Loknath, Bungadhyo, etc.

Hindus worship Rato Matsyendranath as a historical saint, Guru Karunamay. Buddhists worship Rato Matsyendranath as “Padmapani” (the 4th Buddha of Panchabuddha).

On the first day of the RathYatra, the chariot is processed to Gabahal from Pulchowk. Even the guru of Matsyendranath, Minnath, is processed in another chariot.