Each spring a massive chariot moves through the streets of Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley during an annual festival that welcomes the arrival of the monsoon season. This year the festival begins on April 21. In Patan, Nepal, members of the Newar community construct this towering chariot to carry the sacred image of Bunga Dya, the deity shown here. Bunga Dya is worshipped in both Buddhist and Hindu traditions—as Karunamaya (“Manifestation of Compassion”) or Red Avalokiteshvara by Buddhists, and as Macchendranath by Hindus—and is one of the Kathmandu Valley’s most revered deities. Pulled by crowds of devotees, the chariot moves slowly through narrow streets, stopping along the way so different neighborhoods can gather and pay their respects. This annual procession brings together religions, communities, and generations—marking the season through a shared ritual that continues today. #FestivalOfNepal #LivingTraditions #ArtAndCulture ___________ Red Avalokiteshvara, also known as Bunga Dy...