Kathmandu, May 15 -- Contrary to last year, Patan's Machindranath festival concluded with peaceful procession of the rain god's chariot on Saturday.

In an event attended by limited devotees, volunteers clad in face visors and masks pulled the chariot for 200m. There was heavy presence of security forces.

This is the second year in row that the centuries old Bunga Dyajatra has been marked with limited celebrations, which otherwise lasts for months and is the longest festival in Nepal.

Last year, when the police tried to stop devotees from pulling the chariot during the lockdown, things took turn for worse culminating into a violent clash in Pulchok: locals pelted stones at officials, who in turn tear-gassed and later water cannoned the ...