festival

Nepal’s Rato Machindranath Chariot festival

Nepal’s Rato Machindranath Chariot festival

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The legend says that around the 7th century there was massive drought in the Kathmandu valley. It was believed that the arrival of the red deity would end the drought and bring back the rainfall. Hence then King Narendra Dev along with a priest and farmer travelled to what is now the Assam state in India and brought back Karunamaya, the god of compassion. It is popularly now known as Rato Machindranath.

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From the vault: Cherry Blossom Queens and trees in Washington, D.C.

From the vault: Cherry Blossom Queens and trees in Washington, D.C.

12 Photos

More than 3,000 of the trees were planted along Washington D.C.’s tidal basin in 1912, a gift from Japan. Since then Washingtonians have celebrated the annual blooming of the pink blossoms with a parade, and even a beauty pageant.

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