Seto Machhindranath Jatra : A brief history

Seto Machhindranath (also known as Janabaha dyo) is a temple located in Jana Bahal (also known as Machhindra Bahal) Kathmandu, Nepal is a deity worshiped by both Hindus and Buddhists. Seto Macchindranath considered the god of rain is also worshiped as an aspect of Awalokiteshvara.

Above is the picture of Seto Machhindranath Jatra clicked by Charles Bailey in Kathmandu in 1970.

Every year on Chaitra Sukla Asthami (that is around the end of March), the deity's idol is placed in a chariot and paraded around Kathmandu in a popular traditional festival of Kathmandu valley known as Seto Machhindranath Jatra or Jana Baha Dyo Jatra. The deity is bathed and repainted every year as a ritual that symbolizes the changes occurring throughout one's life.

In this three-day-long festival, the chariot of Seto Machhindranath is pulled from place to place ( that is areas including Ason, Hanumandhoka, Jasideval, and Lagantole). Each day when the chariot reaches its destination a group of soldiers fires their rifles into the air. During all three days, people come and pay their respect to God. 

Story of Seto Machhindranath:

One of the popular myths among the people is that the Lord Seto Machhindranath appeared in a pond near present-day Ranipokhari, during the reign of Yaksha Malla. According to the myth, having heard a lot about Swayambhunath and its mystical power Yamraj came to visit the holy place so he could go to heaven. As he was on his way back, the king with help from his tantric priest, captured the god of death and demanded immortality in place of his freedom. As a mortal god himself, Yamraj refrained from giving that power to anyone. Yamraj then summoned Lord Arya Awalokiteshwor, a manifestation of Bodhisattva, to free him from the king, when the king still didn't let him go. The lord, white in color, emerged from the water and told the king that nobody could grant him immortality. The Lord told the king to build a temple where the Kalimati and Bagmati rivers met. The Lord promised to grant anyone who would visit the temple and asked to free Yamraj. He also asked the king to organize a Ratha yatra every year for three days starting from Chaitra Sukla Asthami, so he could go to houses of people who couldn't move due to disability and bless them.

Ever since then,  the procession takes place every year from the same place where the lord presented himself to King Yaksha Malla.