KATHMANDU, JUN 24 -
The last day of this year’s month-long Rato Machhindranath Jatra in Patan, Bhoto Jatra, is being celebrated on Sunday by displaying the jewel-studded bhoto (vest) to the crowd gathered in Jawalakhel.
President Ram Baran Yadav will also observe the function today.
It is a traditionally followed culture from time immemorial to find the owner of the bhoto. It is believed that the bhoto will be continued to be displayed in this particular day until the real owner comes to claim it, from among the crowd, with evidences. From the chariot of the Machhindranath brought at Jawlakhel four days ago for the purpose, the bhoto is shown to the mass thrice in all the four cardinal directions.
According to legends and myths, the auspicious day fêted as Bhoto Jatra is celebrated to look for the real owner of the bhoto which was lost once upon a time by a Jyapu (Newar farmer) of Kathmandu.
The first recorded account of Bhoto Jatra’s celebration dates back to the 13th century. A Tibetan pilgrim known as Dharma Swami has mentioned the demonstration of bhoto in Kathmandu in his travelogue in 13th century. However, historians claim Bhoto Jatra was already a prominent tradition when the travelogue was written.
According to a legend, the black velvet, jeweled bhoto was given to a Jyapu farmer by Karkotaka Naga in reward for curing an eye ailment of his queen. But soon, the bhoto got stolen. After sometime when the farmer was attending Machhindranath festival at Jawalakhel, he saw someone wearing the same vest. A quarrel ensued between the farmer and the man wearing the vest. Karkotaka Naga was also at the festival in human disguise. He settled the quarrel and submitted the bhoto to Machhindranath declaring that whoever produced evidence could take back the vest. But as none of them could produce proofs, it was put on a public display in the Jatra.
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