Festival observers clash with police officials in Nepal

More than a thousand people gathered for a religious chariot festival in Nepal on Thursday, defying COVID-19 prohibitory orders, and clashed with police who resorted to tear gas shells to disperse them, resulting in a few injuries.

People gathered at Pulchowk area of Lalitpur district, 8 km east of Kathmandu, to take part in the centuries-old chariot pulling Machindranath festival, which is mainly observed by the Buddhist community in the valley, police said.

The police informed that the huge gathering was due to the centuries-old chariot pulling Machindranath festival, which is mainly observed by the Buddhist community in the valley.

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The festival is known as the longest chariot festival in Nepal which is celebrated at the beginning of monsoon season, to appease the rain and grain god Rato Machindranath.

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The district administration had in July directed the locals involved in the annual festival to postpone it till the pandemic is over, it said.

After the objection by the police officials, the local youth started pelting bricks and stones on the police personnel on duty, following which the police lobbed tear gas shells and used water cannons to disperse the crowd.
The police informed that half a dozen people, including some policemen, sustained minor injuries.
A police vehicle was also damaged in the incident. However, no one has been arrested so far, police said.

The district administration extended the coronavirus restrictions for one more week after the two-week long prohibitory order expired on Wednesday amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

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