An astrologer of Machchhindranath announced Magh 10 in the lunar calendar as an auspicious day for changing the location of Rato Machchhindranath, said astrologer Kirtimadan Joshi.
Rato Machchhindranath will be placed in Patan until the Rato Machchhindranath Jatra with rituals. During this period, ten karmas (birth to death) of Machchhindranath will be performed.
The chariot festival of the Rato Machchhindranath is considered as the longest religious festival of the Kathmandu Valley.
As per the mythical belief, Hindu God Guru Gorakhnath once arrived in the Kathmandu Valley, asking for offerings (viksha). But, he got enraged after the valley folks did not heed to his request.
Angry Guru Gorakhanath converted the rain-bringing serpents (Naag) as his seat thereby leading to prolonged drought for 12 years in the valley.
Then the Rato Machchhindranath was brought to the valley to awake Guru Gorakhnath, which he did to pay respect to his Guru and thereby the serpents were freed from Gorakhnath´s confinement and the valley saw rainfall. Since then, the festival is observed every year, commemorating the event.
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