Bhoto Jatra

When the eye of the Nagini, queen of Karkotak, the Naga king of Taudaha, began to ache, the Naga king took human form and led a Jyapu physician to Taudaha. When the Jyapu applied a paste made of the grime of his hand mixed with herbs, the Nagini's eye ailment was cured at once.

Delighted, the Naga king gave the Jyapu a precious black 'bhoto' studded with diamonds. The Jyapu always wore that bhoto with pride.

One day, while the Jyapu was working in the field, a ghost stole the bhoto he had taken off and left on the ridge of the field. Later, at the chariot festival of Rato Matsyendranath, when the Jyapu found the ghost wearing that same bhoto, a quarrel broke out between them.

When neither could prove his claim, in the presence of the king and the tantric the bhoto was entrusted to Matsyendranath, and it was declared: "Whoever brings proof shall be given the bhoto."

After that, no one could bring proof. So, every year on the last day of the chariot festival of Rato Matsyendranath, at Jawalakhel, in the presence of the head of state and thousands of people, the tradition arose of showing that divine bhoto in all four directions and concluding the 'Bhoto Jatra'.