About giant chariots in Nepal focusing on Machindranath Jatra

1. KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
DHULIKHEL, KAVRE
PRESENTATION ON:
CASE STUDY ON GIANT CHARIOT AROUND
KATHMANDU VALLEY
PRESENTED BY: PRESENTED TO:
RAKISH SHRESTHA DR. RANJIT SHRESTHA
ME II (HYDROPOWER) COURSE INSTRUCTOR
ROLL NO. 32174 MEEG 318
7/27/2020 1

2. Case Study Outlines
 Introduction
 Background
 Study of the Structure and construction
 Evaluation of the case (Opinion as a Design Engineer)
 Proposed Solution/Changes
 Recommendations
 References
7/27/2020 2

3. Introduction
 Chariots are a tower-like structure with a balcony and huge colorful wheels.
 They are used to carry the representatives of Hindu gods usually used on annual
festival days like Rato-Machhindranath Jatra, Seto-Machhindranath Jatra, Indra
Jatra especially around Kathmandu valley.
Bisket Jatra celebrated on 13 April 2019
[1]
Rato-Machindranath Jatra in Patan
celebrated on 22 June 2019 [2]
7/27/2020 3

4. Background
 Historically, the Egyptians invented the yoke saddle for their chariot horses in c.
1500 BC from which the concept of chariot is said to be adapted.
 In Nepal, giant chariot festivals are celebrated on different occasions as follows:
 Rato-Machhindranath Jatra : This celebration is a chariot procession honoring the
Buddhist deity of compassion Avalokiteśvara held in Lalitpur, Nepal.
 Bisket Jatra : This celebration is the "festival after the death of the serpent".
Various areas of Bhaktapur city celebrate this festival according to their own
rituals.[3]
7/27/2020 4

5.  Many other festivals of giant chariot festivals in and around Kathmandu valley
are celebrated. But, living in the Kathmandu valley I found Machindranath jatra
chariot the most interesting due to its unusually tall structure.
 Two Machindranath jatras are celebrated in Kathmandu valley: Rato
Machindranath Jatra/Bhoto Jatra and Seto Machhindranath Jatra
 Bhoto Jatra/Rato-Machhindranath Jatra
• The chariot procession was instituted to celebrate the arrival of Bunga Dyah in
Nepal and the end of a devastating drought. It was started when Narendra Deva
was the king (640-683 AD)[4]. Bhoto Jatra, which literally means "vest festival",
is the climax of the chariot procession of Bunga Dyah Jatra.
7/27/2020 5

6.  Seto-Machhindranath Jatra
• The chariot procession festival of Seto Machhindranath is celebrated during the
month of Chaitra. This is three days long festival. The chariot of Seto
Machhindranath is pulled from place to place during these three days of
Kathmandu. [5]
 Both the jatras are celebrated to mark the end of drought in the past which had led
to hunger. So, it is believed to be the reason why it rains during the procession of
the chariot.
 Seto-Machhindranath Jatra is celebrated in the centre of Kathmandu and Rato-
Machhindranath Jatra is celebrated in Patan by both Hindu and Buddhists.
7/27/2020 6

7. Some Pictures
Seto-Machhindranath Jatra [5]
Seto-Machhindranath God [5]
Rato-Machhindranath Jatra [4]
Rato-Machhindranath God [4]
7/27/2020 7

8. Video explaining the story of Rato-Machhindranath
7/27/2020 8

9. Study of the Structure and construction
 The height of both Machhindranath chariot is about 48 ft which is the tallest
chariot in the country.
 The chariots are constructed with wooden frames without using nails and pieces
of the canes are placed on the frames in a certain order.
 12 Yewals are assigned to construct the chariot.
 Base of the chariot are spacious and as chariot are made in pyramid shape,
breadth decreases with the height.
 During the chariot construction locking of wooden planks is important along with
the correct wheel ratio.
7/27/2020 9

10. Evaluation of the case (Opinion as a Design Engineer)
 After asking to my family members, they said that they found the design of
Machhindranath chariot to be convincing. Even though, it is a tall structure, there
haven’t been much accidents amidst the crowds.
 In my opinion, the chariot has traditional values and considering that changes to
the design wouldn’t be welcomed also I found the design to be flawless.
 However, the manner of construction could be suggested like the bamboo
should be carved properly for proper interlocking between the frames and
strong knots should be used. Nails could be used to make the chariot frames
strong but due to traditional values it is not used.
7/27/2020 10

11. Proposed Solution/Changes
 As already said, the chariot has traditional values so the changes in design is
ruled out. However, the number of pillars could be increased in order to make the
chariot strong like in Minnath chariot. [6]
 Total of seven frames are used to construct the chariots. The number of frames
can be increased. [6]
 Frames are first placed by Barahis (who work with wood).[6] Frames can be
made of strong light wood used in house construction like redwood and canes
could be placed according to frame size.
7/27/2020 11

12. Recommendation
 My recommendation would be to be careful while pulling the chariot as eight
long ropes are used to pull the chariot of Machhindranath. As there have been
casualties while pulling the chariot due to recklessness of human but not due to
design failure as there will be crowds.
7/27/2020 12
Rato-Machhindranath wheel [6]

13. References
[1] "Bhaktapur, Kathmandu Valley, Bagmati, Nepal : Children look at the camera on top of the Bisket
Jatra festival chariot still in construction at Taumadh," Alamy. [Online]. [Accessed 25 July 2020].
[2] "Rato Machhindranath Jatra: Lifetime experience!," Nepal Advisor, 4 September 2018. [Online].
Available: https://nepaladvisor.com/history/rato-machhindranath-jatra-experience-of-a-lifetime/.
[Accessed 25 July 2020].
[3] "Bisket Jatra Commences in Bhaktapur," The Kathmandu Post, pp. 2-3, 2015.
[4] D. Wright, History of Nepal, New Delhi: Asian Eduacational Services, 1993.
[5] M. R. Bajracharya, "Gorkhapatra.org," archive.today, 3 July 2013. [Online]. Available:
http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/gopa.detail.php?article_id=48437&cat_id=10. [Accessed 26 July
2020].
7/27/2020 13

14. [6] "The Himalayan Times," The making of Rato Machhindranath, 21 May 2017. [Online]. Available:
https://thehimalayantimes.com/lifestyle/art-culture/making-rato-machhindranath/. [Accessed 26 July
2020].
7/27/2020 14

15. Thank You!!
7/27/2020 15