The Rato Matsyendranath Chariot Festival started in Patan this week, one of the longest such carnivals in the world. Matsyendranath is a festival that spans South Asia and is revered as a rain-giver ...

The official“ordered” gods like Leigong (God of Thunder), Dianmu (Goddess of Lightning) and Longwang (Dragon King) to avoid rain and keep temperatures around 31°C.

“Blood rain! I am just kidding; this is what happens when rain falls on red sand rich with iron oxide minerals, creating the illusion of blood rain,” another explained. “Glory be to God.