00:00The Rado Machindranath Chariot Festival, one of Nepal's most important religious events,
00:07began on Thursday in Pathan Lalitpur, with the long chariot procession moving through crowds of
00:11worshippers. The festival, which honors the god of rain and harvest, features a 42-foot-tall chariot
00:17carrying the deity through the streets, accompanied by traditional music and rituals.
00:22The festival is deeply rooted in Nepalese culture and folklore. According to legend,
00:26the chariot procession was started in 897 AD to commemorate Lord Machindranath's feat of bringing
00:32rain to the city of Pathan after a severe drought. The festival celebrates the deity's power to bring
00:37prosperity and rainfall to the region. The chariot is constructed annually by the Nua community using
00:42wooden beams and traditional craftsmanship, without using a single nail. The procession runs for over
00:48a month and is led by troops of musical performers and features traditional rituals and ceremonies.
00:56According to the lunar calendar, the longest chariot festival of Nepal, the
01:26begins on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of Bajhala, the seventh month in the Lunar
01:31Nepal Sambhat calendar. Still, this year it didn't fall as per the set-out rule.
01:35The Rhatau-Machindranath festival presents the
01:52festival about the exhibition of Pathanas, the initial matière of putting soil, which Boeing
01:57The Rado Machindranath festival is integral to Nepal's cultural heritage, showcasing
02:08the country's rich traditions and customs.
02:11The 2015 earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the festival, but it has now resumed,
02:16bringing vibrancy and cheer to the people of Pathan.
02:19There is a belief that the residents of Bhaktapur can pull the chariot to their place and keep
02:23the god for six months if the procession fails to take place before Dushane.
02:27The major fortnightly festival observed in Nepal during the month of October.
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