Tender hands pull tough red chariot of God

Women's turn to pull Rato Machchhindranath
Excitement galore at annual chariot festival in Lalitpur

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Lalitpur, June 12

Women pulled the chariot of Ratomachchhindranath from Podetole of Lagankhel to Bighneshwor Ganesh Temple at Thati tole today as their counterparts did. It started at 5:30 AM and reached to the destination of about 125 metres at about 6:45.

“It was so exciting moment when the women were pulling the chariot,” said local onlooker Shova Maharjan, who pulled the chariot herself two years ago. “This chance falls once a year for women to pull the chariot. So we never miss to involve in the celebration,” she said.

Thousands of women of any age took part in the chariot procession of Rato Machchhindranath this morning at Lagankhel. The chariot procession of Rato Machchhindranath, which takes place on the auspicious days in between April to June, began on April 29 this year.

Laxmi Shahi of Balkumari, who has pulled the chariot for five consecutive years, said that it was an amazing experience of pulling chariot. “It looks so simple while men pull it but we experience difficulty as we do it,” said Maharjan. “I was so tired and felt sick throughout the after the wonderful moments,” she added.

Coconut, which is regarded as the harbinger of prosperity and will help fulfill all their wishes, was thrown from the chariot on Thursday at Lagankhel. If anyone could get this coconut, his wish, if any, would be fulfilled. Mostly man without a son comes so that he could beget a son, according to the locals. On the day of coconut throwing, it is believed that on the eve of taking the chariot from Lagankhel to Jawalakhel, the podenies (female street sweepers) used to sleep naked and Machchhindranath descends to sleep with them.

“We did not wish for anything but did it simply without demanding anything from God,” said Shahi. Women from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Kirtipur thronged the spot to pull the chariot. “More than 100 women actively involved in pulling two chariots weighing about 50 and 20 tons respectively,” said local Bhairaja Dheula. “I observed the celebration with my keen interest,” he said.

Rato Machchhindranath is worshipped as the God of rain and harvest. It is popularly known as Bodhisattwa, Padmapani, Bunga Dyo and Karunamaya Lokeshwara (in Buddhism), which means compassionate god of the universe.

The chariot is pulled from Pulchowk through Gabahal, Sundhara, Lagankhel and Jawalakhel, according to the branch office of the Guthi Sansthan at Lalitpur. The astrologers select an auspicious day and time before the chariot is brought to Jawalakhel. After four days, Bhoto Jatra is celebrated in the presence of the head of the nation. Then it is returned to the temple of Bungamati, a village in southern Lalitpur.

This festival was observed in the winter season in the 13th century as written in the autobiography of traveller Dharma Sayami. King Jayasthiti Malla began in 14th century to celebrate the festival in the spring season.

The deity was brought by Lichhivi king Narendra Dev during the ninth century from Kamarkamachay of Assam, India to Patan in the Kathmandu valley in order to prevent drought. The deity is kept at Bungamati for sixth months and at Tahbahal of Patan for six months alternatively.

This news was published on The Himalayan Times, June 13, 2009.