| Jana Baha Dyah Jatra | |
|---|---|
 Chariot of Jana Baha Dyah at Durbar Marg | |
| Also called | Seto Machhendranath Jatra |
| Observed by | Nepalese |
| Type | Religious |
| Significance | Spreads peace in the city |
| Celebrations | Chariot procession |
| Begins | March end (Chaitra Sukla Aastami) |
Jana Bahā Dyaḥ Jātrā (Nepali: जन: बहा: द्य जात्रा also known as सेतो मच्छिन्द्रनाथको रथयात्रा) is the chariot procession of Jana Baha Dyah, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, which is held annually in Kathmandu. It begins on the 8th day and ends on the 10th day of the bright fortnight of Chaulā (चौला), the sixth month in the lunar Nepal Era calendar.
The Buddhist deity is known in Sanskrit as Aryavalokitesvara (Sacred Avalokiteśvara), and also White Machhendranath or White Karunamaya and Guanyin by Chinese. It is believed that the annual procession was begun to provide the townspeople who were unable to visit his temple a sight of the image.[1][2]
- ^ Locke, S.J., John K. "Newar Buddhist Initiation Rites". INAS Journal. Retrieved 18 April 2013. Page 2.
- ^ Yoshizaki, Kazumi (2006). "The Kathmandu Valley as a Water Pot: Abstracts of research papers on Newar Buddhism in Nepal". Retrieved 18 April 2013. Page 5.