Matsya Narayana Mela, locally as Machhenarayan Mela, a month-long fair held in every Malmas at Matsyanarayan's temple, which is about 8 km southwest of Kathmandu. Devotees from all over come to the temple during the Malamas period to worship Lord Vishnu and take a dip in the holy pond there.[1] It is also mentioned in the scriptures that worshiping Lord Narayan destroys all sins. The temple has an artistic entrance of a Garuda wearing a golden jalap and a one-foot-tall four-armed idol manifesting from the mouth of a fish holding conch, chakra, gadā (mace) and Padma.
It is mentioned in the Puranas that when Vishnu took ten incarnations, he first assumed the body of a fish and protected the Vedas by working as a boat in the sea during the flood. Devotees who have the intention of seeing Char Narayan do not miss visiting Matsyanarayan temple. Apart from Malamas, there is a throng of devotees who visit Matsyanarayana on Janpurnima and New Years.
