History
Bhoto Jatra ("Jewelled Vest Festival") is the closing ceremony of the month-long Rato Machindranath Jatra. The centrepiece is a bhoto — a vest encrusted with precious gems — which is believed to have been given to a serpent king (Nag) by a deity, then stolen by a Jyapu farmer, and eventually reclaimed for the deity. Its ownership was never fully resolved, so the vest is displayed publicly once a year so that any rightful claimant may come forward.
The ritual display takes place in the presence of Nepal's head of government — making Bhoto Jatra one of the only festivals in the country accorded formal state recognition.
Significance
Beyond the legal legend of the vest, Bhoto Jatra marks the conclusion of the entire Rato Machindranath festival cycle and signals that the monsoon season is near. The public gathering at Jawalakhel draws tens of thousands of spectators for an evening of music, cultural performances, and the ritual showing of the vest from the chariot platform.
What to Expect
Bhoto Jatra is an evening event held at Jawalakhel open ground in Patan. The chariot of Rato Machindranath is positioned at Jawalakhel, and the vest is displayed from its upper platform to the assembled crowd. Senior government officials attend formally. The surrounding area has food stalls, cultural performances, and a fairground atmosphere. Arrive by late afternoon to secure a good position — crowds are enormous.