Construction Begins for Seto Machhindranath Chariot in Kathmandu

Kathmandu. The construction of the chariot for Seto Machhindranath has commenced at Tindhara Sanskrit School in Jamal. The Seto Machhindranath Management Committee announced that the work to build the chariot for the idol of Aryavalokiteshvara, considered the deity of rain and good harvest, has begun.

The Seto Machhindranath chariot procession is traditionally held by parading the chariot around the city to allow the elderly residents of the Kathmandu Valley to have a glimpse (darshan). Since this year's Seto Machhindranath festival falls on Chaitra 12, the construction of the chariot started from the day of Tritiya. The chariot is bound using rattan, which is called 'Pau' in the Newari language.

The tradition involves placing the idol of Seto Machhindranath, also known as Karunamaya and Aryavalokiteshvara, on a palanquin from Janbahal and then installing it onto the chariot built at Tindhara Sanskrit School before parading it around the city. The procession concludes after circling the mother of Machhindranath in Lagantol three times on the final day.

According to legend, in ancient times, a Jyapu (local farmer) discovered the idol of Seto Machhindranath while digging in the fields of the Jamal area. The legend states that when the idol was kept hidden inside a paddy storage bin at his home, the paddy inside never depleted no matter how much was taken out, leading to the idol being established in Janbahal, recognized as the provider of grains.

Following this tradition, the chariot is still constructed in Jamal, the very location where the idol was found. There are four Machhindranath deities in the valley: the white ones in Jamal and Banepa/Nala, and the red ones in Bungamati (Lalitpur) and Chobar.

Seto Machhindranath, a symbol of religious tolerance, is traditionally worshipped by the Shaiva sect as Shiva, by the Shakta sect as Shakti, and by the Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist sects as Aryavalokiteshvara. Photos: Bijen Amatya/Nepal Photo Library