The festival came to a halt following the disaster, while the temples of Machhindra Bahal in Bungmati, Lalitpur, were destroyed by the deadly earthquake.

Rato Machhindranath is worshipped as the god of rain and good harvest by both Hindus and Buddhists. The festival is known as Barha Barshe Rath Yatra (chariot procession that comes in 12 years).

The following photos depict the scale of damage caused by the devastating earthquake around Machhindra Bahal in Bungmati. 

Photos: Prakash Timilsena