Ojesh Singh

May 26, 2023 at 2:18PM

Day 3540: BungDyo

BungDyo Jatra or Rato Machindranath Jatra is one of the biggest socio-cultural events of the Newar community and the longest Jatra celebrated every year (May-June) in Patan, Nepal. It is a celebration of BungDyo, who is revered as the god of prosperity, rain, and harvest.

It is believed that many celebrations and festivals in the Kathmandu Valley are initiated to support the agrarian culture of the region, as the valley has predominantly been agricultural. This Jatra follows the same tradition.

According to the legend, BungDyo was brought from Assam, India to end a 12-year-long drought in the Kathmandu Valley. The drought was believed to be a curse from a Hindu saint named Gorakhnath Baba, who was angered by the people of the valley for denying him alms. In response, he went into meditation while sitting over the Nag Dev, the god of serpents.

Upon the advice of tantrics, King Narendra Dev of Bhaktapur, a local Newar farmer from Lalitpur, a tantric from Kathmandu, and Karkotak Nag (the Snake) from Taudaha brought Rato Machhindranath from India. Rato Machhindranath was the guru of Gorakhnath. When Rato Machhindranath arrived, Gorakhnath ended his meditation, and all the serpents were released. Finally, heavy rain poured down, ending the 12-year drought in the valley.

Hence, there is this celebration or Jatra every year to avoid drought in Kathmandu valley.

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