Rato Machhindranath Jatra
रातो मच्छिन्द्रनाथ जात्रा
Also known as: Bunga Dyah Jatra
Nepal's longest festival - the procession of the towering chariot of Rato (Red) Machhindranath, the god of rain and harvest, patron deity of Patan (Lalitpur). Celebrated for the welfare of all living beings.
When
April–June
Gregorian (approximate — lunar dates shift yearly)
Nepali month
Baisakh / Jestha
Bikram Sambat calendar
Duration
1–2 months (varies annually)
Tourist appeal
High
Newari · Kathmandu Valley
Rato Machhindranath Jatra involves pulling a massive wooden chariot (up to 18 m tall) through the streets of Patan over a period of weeks or months, with the exact schedule determined by priests and astrologers. The festival culminates in the Bhoto Jatra - the public display of a bejewelled vest - which was traditionally conducted in the presence of Nepal's head of state.
Traditions & rituals
Pulling of the four-wheeled tower-chariot through Patan streets
Chariot built fresh each year from timber and bamboo
Bhoto Jatra - public display of the jewelled vest of Machhindranath
Ritual bathing of the deity and processions
When does Rato Machhindranath Jatra fall this year?
Rato Machhindranath Jatra is observed in the Nepali months of Baisakh / Jestha, which corresponds to roughly April–June in the Gregorian calendar. Most Nepali festivals follow the lunar Bikram Sambat calendar, so the precise day moves each year. Use our converter to map any Bikram Sambat date to the Gregorian calendar.
Nepali date converter (BS ⇄ AD) →Rato Machhindranath Jatra, answered
Common questions about the date, duration and meaning of Rato Machhindranath Jatra.
When is Rato Machhindranath Jatra celebrated?+
Rato Machhindranath Jatra falls in April–June — the Nepali months of Baisakh / Jestha in the Bikram Sambat calendar. Because most Nepali festivals follow the lunar calendar, the exact Gregorian dates shift slightly each year.
How long does Rato Machhindranath Jatra last?+
Rato Machhindranath Jatra lasts 1–2 months (varies annually).
What is the significance of Rato Machhindranath Jatra?+
Nepal's longest festival - the procession of the towering chariot of Rato (Red) Machhindranath, the god of rain and harvest, patron deity of Patan (Lalitpur). Celebrated for the welfare of all living beings.
Who celebrates Rato Machhindranath Jatra and where?+
Rato Machhindranath Jatra is primarily a Newari festival, celebrated mainly in the Kathmandu Valley.
Other festivals of Nepal
Sources & data note
Festival dates follow the lunar Bikram Sambat calendar and shift each Gregorian year; the approximate Gregorian months reflect the typical recent range. Cultural details on Rato Machhindranath Jatra are sourced from the Nepal Tourism Board and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.