KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has begun preparations for this year’s Seto Machhindranath Jatra, one of the Valley’s main religious and cultural events.
A meeting held under the chair of Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol on Monday discussed route management, coordination among concerned agencies, and security arrangements for the chariot procession.
Officials said the festival will pass through nine wards of the metropolis, with coordination required for religious, cultural, and logistical aspects.
Dangol announced that the budget allocated for the festival has been increased from Rs 1 million to Rs 2 million this year.
“We must collectively ensure that devotees experience the festival with dignity and grandeur,” she said.
Chief District Officer of Kathmandu Ishwar Raj Paudel said security agencies would be mobilized to ensure smoothness.
“The District Administration Office will deploy security mechanisms, while the metropolis should coordinate with all stakeholders to enhance the festival’s scale,” he said.
The city will also take responsibility for road repairs, sanitation, and overall management along the procession routes.
According to organizers, the chariot procession will begin from Kel Tole on March 26 and will pass through key areas, including Asan Bazaar and Hanuman Dhoka, before concluding at Janabahal.
The following day, the procession will move through areas including Kel Tole, Indra Chowk, and reach Hanuman Dhoka.
Subsequent routes will pass through several traditional localities before concluding at Janabahal.
Celebrated annually from Chaitra Shukla Ashtami to Purnima, the festival is a significant part of Kathmandu’s cultural heritage, drawing large crowds of devotees and visitors each year.
Comment