Editorial photo #12667450 Religion and Belief
Nepal's Long Reigning Rato Macchindranath Chariot Festival Drags To End
Nepali Hindu devotees gather and perform rituals on the embankments of the Bagmati River in memory of their fathers on Kushe Aunsi, or Father's Day, in the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 23, 2025. Also known as the day of Gokarne Aunshi, children feed their fathers delicious food items, including sweets, and show reverence. As per the religious belief of 'Pitridevo Bhava' (respect to ancestors), sons and daughters receive blessings from their fathers. Those whose fathers are deceased go to a pilgrimage site and perform Shraddha, the holy ritual. It is believed that doing this ensures their lineage remains stable forever. There is a belief that distributing alms at Gokarneshwor by those who have lost their father and mother grants salvation to their souls and places them in heaven. It is also believed that those who have lost their father can see his face on the river on the day of Kushe Aunsi. (Photo by Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto)
