Lalitpur, July 7 -- Lalitpur District Administration Office has directed Jyapu Samaj Yala, a local Guthi, and the locals involved in the annual Rato Machindranath Jatra to postpone this year's festival until the Covid-19 is pandemic is over.

The festival, whose main attraction is a chariot procession, was due to start from Wednesday from Pulchowk. The festival organisers had decided to organise the festival after the government eased the lockdown in mid-June.

The festival is the longest chariot festival in Nepal which starts just before the beginning of monsoon, to appease the rain and grain god Rato Machindranath.

The local administration of Laltipur directed the Guthi to postpone the festival, arguing that it is against the governmen...