President Bhandari observes Bhoto Jatra (Photo Feature)

Kathmandu, June 4: President Bidya Devi Bhandari observed the jewel-adorned vest kept in the custody of Lord Rato Machhindranath on Saturday. 

Amidst an annual ritual of Bhoto Jatra at Jawalakhel, Lalitpur president and high dignitaries have observed the festival. 

The vest was displayed on Saturday evening. The living goddess Kumari of Patan has also observed the festival. 

As per the tradition, Bhoto Jatra is celebrated on the fourth day of the arrival of the chariots of Rato Machhindranath and Minnath at Jawalakhel. 

A designated government official holds up the vest from the chariot of Rato Machhindranath and shows it to the people in all four directions.

After the ceremony, the scarlet idol of Machhindranath is taken to Bungamati where it resides for half the year.

Bhoto Jatra, the last part of the multi-month-long Rato Machhindranath festival, was not marked last year and the year before because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival of Rato Machhindranath, considered the god of rain and good harvest, is the longest chariot festival in the country.