KATHMANDU: The longest chariot festival in Nepal, the Rato Machindranath chariot festival earlier postponed due to the lockdown imposed to curb coronavirus pandemic, is rescheduled to start from July 25.

According to the organizing committee, July 25 is picked as the holy day for the inauguration of the festival via ‘chariot ride’ which will be followed by the chariot pulling on the same day.

The longest chariot festival will be in run from the day and the chariot will be taken to various parts of the valley including Pulchowk, Gabahal, Mangalbazaar, Sundhara, Balkumari, Lagankhel, Jawalkhel and Bungmati to mention a few.

Bhoto Jatra is also a part of the festival observed with great enthusiasm.

The festival, generally, starts before the beginning of the monsoon season and is meant to appease the rain and grain God Rato Machindranath.

The lockdown imposed to curb the coronavirus pandemic has affected the natural schedule of the festival.

The construction work of the chariot stalled from April 10 has resumed from June 24 and the preparation work is nearly complete for the Jatra.

According to Rakshan Rajopadhyaya, a priest of Patan Taleju temple and member of Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti, the apt time for the inauguration of ‘chariot-riding’ ceremony would be 12.10 to 12.25 PM on Saturday, July 25.

The Chariot pulling will also be initiated from the same day.