KATHMANDU, JUN 25 - Thousands gathered to observe Bhoto Jatra in Jawalakhel on Sunday, and like every year, the jewel-studded black vest, known as the “Bhoto,” was displayed from the chariot of Rato Machhindranath. This brought to an end the month-long festival of the rain god.
President Ram Baran Yadav and various other dignitaries were present at the Jatra that concluded at 5 pm.
Lekh Nath Sapkota, the chief of Guthi Sansthan, Lalitpur, said this year’s celebrations were more successful than earlier. “The entire celebrations were very smooth as compared to past years,” he said. “The chariot did not break or fall apart as we invested more money this time.The decorations of the chariot were also more beautiful,” he added.
Bhoto Jatra is the longest and the most important festival in Patan. During the celebrations, the wooden chariot of Rato Machhindranath is decorated and wheeled through various streets of Patan including Gabahal, Hakha, Sundhara, Lagankhel and Pulchowk.
The chariot carries a 60-feet tall spire fabricated from bamboo poles. Finally, it is wheeled to Jawalakhel where the ceremony of displaying the Bhoto takes place.
“Around 300,000 people attend the Jatra this year,” Sapkota said. The Lalitpur Guthi Sansthan said it invested Rs 2.2 million in the ceremony this year. The whole event was managed by Lalitpur Municipality in association with the Guthi Sansthan.
Legend has it that the velvet Bhoto was given to a Jyapu farmer by the Karkotaka Naga in reward for curing an eye ailment plaguing his queen. But soon, the Bhoto was stolen. Later, when the farmer was attending the Machhindranath festival at Jawalakhel, he spied 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 by presenting the Bhoto to Machhindranath and declaring that whoever can produce evidence of the ownership could have the vest. But as neither the farmer nor the man wearing the vest could produce proof, the Bhoto was put on public display at the Jatra. And so continues the tradition of displaying the Bhoto to the public until its rightful owner is found.
Another legend associated with the Jatra claims that Guru Gorakhnath was not treated well by the locals of Patan when he came seeking alms. The furious yogi trapped all serpents that caused rain under his seat and began meditating. Thus, Patan saw no rain for ages. On the advice of astrologers and priests, the king invited Machhindranath, Gorakhnath’s teacher, to Patan. After hearing that his teacher was in Patan, the Yogi went to see him, thus freeing the serpents. The serpents then brought rain back rain to Patan. The Jatra then came to symbolise rain.
Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/06/25/capital/lalitpur-marks-a-better-bhoto-jatra/356113/
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