President Paudel observes bhoto jatra

Lalitpur, Aug 5: President Ramchandra Paudel observed the bhoto jatra, a cultural festival celebrated on Sunday.

President Paudel attended the cultural festival dedicated to the Rato Machchhindranath, the God of rain and good harvest, at Jawalakhel of Lalitpur at 4:00 pm on Sunday.

The Head of the State was accompanied by Vice-President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Chief Justice Bishwombhar Prasad Shrestha, Speaker Devraj Ghimire and National Assembly Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal among other dignitaries to observe the display the bhoto.

The bhoto is a mythical vest studded with jewels and believed to belong to the Lord Machchhindranath. The dignitaries observing the bhoto jatra were welcomed by Lalitpur Metropolitan City (LMC) Mayor Chiribabu Maharjan, Chief District Officer of Lalitpur Tulsi Bahadur Shrestha and LMC Deputy Mayor Manjali Shakya.

Every year, the employees of the Guthi Sansthan display the jewel studded bhoto standing in the chariot of Rato Machchhindranath to the public in the presence of the Head of the State.  Following the tradition, it continued today too.

On the occasion, President Paudel paid obeisance to Rato Machchhindranath and received prasad. He also offered obeisance to the living Goddess Kumari.  Deputy Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh, ministers, Heads of constitutional bodies, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, chiefs of local levels in Kathmandu Valley and Chiefs of security agencies also marked their presence in the festival along with the President.

The festival also drew a significant number of general public bustling to seize a glimpse of the mythical vest and receive blessings from the Rato Machchhindranath.

The four-day festival has come to conclusion with the display of the mythical vest today. Prior to that, a chariot procession of Rato Machchhindranath was brought from Gabahal to Jawalakhel through Mangalbazar, Tangal Ititol, Kumaripati and Manbhavan.

The idol of Rato Machchhindranath will be taken to Bungamati today itself, marking the end of the festivity, said Baikuntha Acharya, Chief of the Guthi Sansthan.  The celebration is believed to have started some 1,600 years ago in the Kathmandu Valley.

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