July 28, 2025

The Seto Machhindranath Jatra is one of Kathmandu’s oldest and most revered chariot festivals, held in honor of the white rain god known as Seto Machhindranath (also called Janabaha Dyo). Celebrated each spring in the core of old Kathmandu city, the festival brings together Hindu and Buddhist communities in a shared act of veneration, procession, and pageantry.

The deity is considered the protector of Kathmandu and the bringer of rain and good harvest. He resides in a temple at Janabaha, but once a year, he is placed in a tall, wooden chariot and paraded through the ancient alleys of Durbar Marg, Asan, Indra Chowk, and Hanuman Dhoka. Each neighborhood plays host, offering pujas, food, and music as the chariot lumbers through.

The procession lasts for three days, pulled by teams of devotees with thick ropes. The streets echo with conch shells, traditional drums, and the chants of worshippers. Locals line the windows and balconies of centuries-old houses to witness the slow, deliberate journey of the rain god through their neighborhoods. It’s a time when the otherwise bustling city pauses to participate in something timeless.

Unlike the more flamboyant Rato Machhindranath Jatra of Patan, this festival has a quieter, more devotional atmosphere, reflective of Kathmandu’s spiritual depth. Still, the grandeur of the chariot, the historic setting, and the seamless blending of Buddhist and Hindu traditions make it a spectacle of sacred pageantry.

The Seto Machhindranath Jatra also ties in with the seasonal cycle of the valley, marking the transition from the dry season toward the rains. The festival is believed to ensure timely monsoons, protect the city from disease, and maintain cosmic balance.

  • Time of Year: March or April (Chaitra, according to the lunar calendar)
  • Location: Old Kathmandu (Janabaha, Asan, Indra Chowk, Durbar Square)
  • Duration: 3 days
  • What to Expect: Chariot pulled by devotees, processions through Kathmandu’s historic core, traditional music, a blend of Buddhist-Hindu rituals
  • Interesting Facts:
    • Seto Machhindranath is also considered an aspect of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
    • The chariot’s path recreates a sacred circuit believed to protect the city
    • The deity resides year-round in the ancient Janabaha Dyo temple, open to visitors