Rato Machhindranath Jatra || ThatiTole to Jawalakhel || 2081

Rato Machindranath is known as the god of rain and crops, and the festival is celebrated annually to please him. This celebration, like others throughout the country’s history, foretells of sad events that took place in the central valley. According to some myths, it is said that Rato Machhindranath jatra is celebrated to remember that Kathmandu valley was once rescued from a severe drought.The story goes back to the medieval period when a sage Guru Gorakhnath once visited Kathmandu and was not respected by anyone. Since, it was common for a sage to be offered alms by locals and rely on them, he went around locals of Kathmandu asking for the offerings. During the time, the locals of Patan didn’t care much about him and refused to give him offerings as well. The disrespect and insult by the locals angered Guru Gorakhnath which led him to vow for revenge. In order to take the revenge, Guru Gorakhnath went to a site where nine rain bringing serpents reside. Guru Gorakhnath then began his intense meditation by sitting on the head of the serpent. After this, Kathmandu valley received no rain for many years that resulted in drought. A renowned Tantrik stated that Yogi Gorakhnath’s meditative condition was the cause of this drought. He also stated that after the serpents were released, it would rain in the valley again. The helpless people in the valley went to Guru Gorakhnath and asked for forgiveness, but the angry sage ignored them all. Eventually, some locals came up with a desperate plan to wake Gorakhnath from his meditation . They headed all the way to Assam in northeast India, where the angered Gorakhnath’s teacher, Machindranath, resided. Once there, they respectfully requested Machindranath to visit the Kathmandu Valley, stating that the people of the valley were anxious to give him a royal welcome. Machindranath was satisfied with their request and accompanied them to Kathmandu. Upon reaching the Kathmandu valley the locals took him to the place where Gorakhnath was meditating. Sensing his teacher had visited him, Gorakhnath had no other choice but to break his meditation and stand in front of his teacher. Thus Gorakhnath’s angry meditation was broken, and the rain-bringing snakes were free to bring rain to the valley once more. Later, the King chose to keep Rato Macchindranath in Lalitpur. Since that day, people have celebrated the chariot festival every year to show their gratitude and respect. Source : https://varnabas.com/