Lalitpur, April 18 -- Running over a span of weeks, depending vaguely on astrology, the Rato Macchindranath Chariot festival started in Nepal from Saturday after the "Aajus" or "Priests" carried the "Red God" to the chariot and made him seated.

Chariot procession of Rato Macchendranath, also called as "Bunga Dugh" in Newari, meaning the God of Rain and Harvest, is the longest Jatra in Nepal, which runs on for months depending on astronomy.

A 32-foot sky-scrapping chariot of Rato Machhendranath is constructed annually by the Newar community using wooden beams, thumped adjustments to the shrine sanctum without using a single nail. It takes about a week for the community to build it and is given final touch-up with decorative elements befo...