Kathmandu, May 25: President Ramchandra Paudel today observed the Bhotojatra festival, a ritualistic festival dedicated to the Rato Machchhindranath, the deity of rain and bountiful harvest. The President attended the Bhotojatra festival at Jawalakhel this afternoon and observed the ritual of displaying the Bhoto (the jewel-studded mythical vest believed to belong to the deity).
As part of this ritual, an employee of the Guthi Sansthan Lalitpur displayed the Bhoto from the pinnacle of a chariot of the Rato Machchhindranath deity. It is a tradition to display the Bhoto on the fourth day the chariot of the deity is towed in a procession up to Jawalakhel from Lagankhel.
On the occasion, the Head-of-the-State paid homage to the Rato Machchhindranath deity and also partook the prasad. He also paid obeisance to the living goddess Kumari on the occasion. The chariot festival which started from April 24 concluded today with the displaying of the Bhoto.
Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha and the government ministers were also present on the occasion. A large number of people had also gathered at Jawalakhel to observe the Bhotojatra festival.
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