Bunga dyo/ Rato Machhindranath
Rato Machindranath Jatra is celebrated to remember that Kathmandu was once rescued from severe drought. It is believed that Guru Gorakhnath (a sage) had once visited Patan in the medieval period and no one offered any respect towards him. He was angered by the insult and went to the location of the nine rain-bringing serpents with a vow to take revenge. He sat on the snake’s head and entered a deep level of meditation.
A 12 years long drought then hit Patan, and all the rivers around dried off. A Tantrik informed that the meditating state of the Yogi Gorakhnath was the cause for this drought. He also said that once the serpents were set free, it would rain in the valley again. Thus, the advisors told the then King Narendra Dev to bring Machhindranath, the angry Gorakhnath’s teacher from Assam (India) to Patan. So people went to fetch him and upon their request, he visited Kathmandu Valley. With the help of four Bhairabs, the locals took him to Gorakhnath’s place. Sensing his presence, Gorakhnath came out from this trance and stood respectfully. Finally, rain bringing serpents were free and it started raining in the valley.
Later the King decided to keep Rato Macchindranath in Lalitpur. Since that day, people have been celebrating this chariot festival every year.
Source : royalmt.com.np
