15/08/2026
今年五月在尼泊爾帕坦古城，我剛好遇上了一年一度的 Rato Machhindranath 戰車節。
這是加德滿都谷地最重要、也最古老的宗教節慶之一。人們供奉的 Rato Machhindranath，與雨水、農耕和豐收有密切關係；在尼瓦爾佛教傳統中，也被視為觀世音菩薩的一種化身。
節慶開始前，工匠用傳統方式搭建這座巨大的木製戰車。它不用現代的建築系統，而是依靠世代相傳的木工、繩索綁紮和手工技藝組合起來。完成後，神像被迎請到戰車上，經過祝聖，再由民眾合力拉著它穿過帕坦古城。
我很幸運，先看到戰車的祝聖儀式；後來又在人群中，看著它慢慢經過 Patan Durbar Square 帕坦杜巴廣場。
對我來說，最有意思的是，這不只是一個宗教節日。當戰車移動的時候，信仰、傳統工藝、城市空間和社群，也一起被連結起來。
#歷史建築 #文化遺產
This May in Patan, Nepal, I happened to encounter the annual Rato Machhindranath Chariot Festival.
It is one of the oldest and most important religious festivals in the Kathmandu Valley. Rato Machhindranath is closely associated with rain, agriculture, and a good harvest, and in the Newar Buddhist tradition, is also regarded as a manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion.
Every year, local craftsmen rebuild this enormous wooden chariot using generations-old woodworking and rope-binding techniques. After the deity is consecrated and placed inside, the community comes together to pull the chariot through the historic city of Patan.
I was very fortunate to witness the consecration ceremony, and later, standing among the crowd, to watch the chariot pass through Patan Durbar Square.
What fascinates me most is that this is more than a religious festival. As the chariot moves through the city, belief, traditional craftsmanship, urban space, and community are all brought together.
