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About Bhimsen Rath Jatra of Lalitpur in Nepal – Pandava Bhima Worship

Bhimsen Rath Jatra of Lalitpur in Nepal is associated with traders and is observed on the tenth day during the waning phase of moon in Bhadra month as per traditional Nepali Calendar. The festival is dedicated to Bhima, the second of the Pandava brothers.

Bhimsen, who possess unimaginable strength, is worshipped as the God of Commerce by Newar communities or traders. It is believed by the traders that those who worship Bhimsen will be blessed with profit in their business and Bhima will remove all the impediments in their business.
The Himalayan Times reports
Talking about the Jatra’s beginnings, Kiran Man Pradhan, President of Mangal Tole Sudhar Sangh and the organiser of the festival informed, “It was king Yog Narendra Malla in 1701 who began the chariot festival of Bhimsen which continues till today.” 
According to him, King Sri Niwas Malla, father of Yog Narendra, built the three-storied Bhimsen temple on the premises of Patan Durbar Square. And the festival begins once the idol of Bhimsen is placed in the chariot after sunset.
Bhimsen Rath Jatra is the only jatra where the aroma from burning incense sticks is so thick that it can suffocate you. As the sun goes down, a wooden idol — replica of the brass idol of Bhimsen — is brought down and placed inside the 500-kg heavy chariot, which is carried by men with the help of two bamboo sticks placed at the bottom of the gold plated decorative chariot. By this time anyone who is present in the festival can be seen with burning incense sticks in their hands dousing the air with the aroma from the incense sticks that can haunt you even after the festival ends.