"Blessing of the Waters"

#12757759

15 September 2025

Candomble Babalorixa Pai Pote (Jose Raimundo Lima Chaves) blesses attendees with water during the 25th Brazilian Festival of the 'Lavagem da Madeleine' in Paris, France, on September 14, 2025. The festival takes place this year during the Brazil-France 2025 Season, which marks the 200th anniversary of diplomatic relationships between the two countries. The festival is one of the biggest and most important events of Brazilian culture in Europe and is inspired by the centuries-old ritual of the 'Lavagem do Bonfim' (washing of the stairs of the Bonfim church) carried out by the Afro-Brazilian community in Salvador da Bahia. The event is initiated by Brazilian artist Robertinho Chaves.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12757760

15 September 2025

Candomble Babalorixa Pai Pote (Jose Raimundo Lima Chaves) blesses attendees with water during the 25th Brazilian Festival of the 'Lavagem da Madeleine' in Paris, France, on September 14, 2025. The festival takes place this year during the Brazil-France 2025 Season, which marks the 200th anniversary of diplomatic relationships between the two countries. The festival is one of the biggest and most important events of Brazilian culture in Europe and is inspired by the centuries-old ritual of the 'Lavagem do Bonfim' (washing of the stairs of the Bonfim church) carried out by the Afro-Brazilian community in Salvador da Bahia. The event is initiated by Brazilian artist Robertinho Chaves.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12726954

7 September 2025

Hindu Balinese religious leaders splash holy water during the 20th Pujawali ceremony at Parahyangan Agung Jagatkartta in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, on September 7, 2025.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12726955

7 September 2025

Hindu Balinese religious leaders splash holy water during the 20th Pujawali ceremony at Parahyangan Agung Jagatkartta in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, on September 7, 2025.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12726956

7 September 2025

Hindu Balinese religious leaders splash holy water during the 20th Pujawali ceremony at Parahyangan Agung Jagatkartta in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, on September 7, 2025.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12598016

29 July 2025

A Nepali Hindu devotee performs rituals while worshipping the serpent deity on the day of Naag Panchami at Naag Pokhari in Kathmandu, Nepal, on July 29, 2025. The fifth day of the bright half-moon of the Shrawan month, according to the lunar calendar, is regarded as Naag Panchami, a day dedicated to serpent deities. People flock to nearby ponds and Naag temples to worship the serpentine deity, marking the start of the festive season in the Himalayan nation. The festival of Naag Panchami is also regarded as a festival to strengthen the bond between humans and nature. On this particular day, farmers do not dig or plough the field; instead, they worship the deity by making idols from the mud of their fields. The serpentine deity is also regarded as the god of water and rain, and according to religious belief, the house where the Naag deity resides is bestowed with wealth and prosperity. The age-old tradition of observing the festival is believed to have started when a farmer in ancient times ploughed the field on the day of Naag Panchami and a family of serpents was killed. The serpent then promised not to spare any of the family members of that farmer after his entire family was killed. The farmer had only a daughter who was married off; the serpent then went to the girl's house to take revenge and saw the daughter worshipping the serpent deity. The snake, who lost its family, returned, blessing the girl.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12598018

29 July 2025

A Nepali Hindu devotee performs rituals while worshipping the serpent deity on the day of Naag Panchami at Naag Pokhari in Kathmandu, Nepal, on July 29, 2025. The fifth day of the bright half-moon of the Shrawan month, according to the lunar calendar, is regarded as Naag Panchami, a day dedicated to serpent deities. People flock to nearby ponds and Naag temples to worship the serpentine deity, marking the start of the festive season in the Himalayan nation. The festival of Naag Panchami is also regarded as a festival to strengthen the bond between humans and nature. On this particular day, farmers do not dig or plough the field; instead, they worship the deity by making idols from the mud of their fields. The serpentine deity is also regarded as the god of water and rain, and according to religious belief, the house where the Naag deity resides is bestowed with wealth and prosperity. The age-old tradition of observing the festival is believed to have started when a farmer in ancient times ploughed the field on the day of Naag Panchami and a family of serpents was killed. The serpent then promised not to spare any of the family members of that farmer after his entire family was killed. The farmer had only a daughter who was married off; the serpent then went to the girl's house to take revenge and saw the daughter worshipping the serpent deity. The snake, who lost its family, returned, blessing the girl.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12598019

29 July 2025

A Nepali Hindu devotee performs rituals while worshipping the serpent deity on the day of Naag Panchami at Naag Pokhari in Kathmandu, Nepal, on July 29, 2025. The fifth day of the bright half-moon of the Shrawan month, according to the lunar calendar, is regarded as Naag Panchami, a day dedicated to serpent deities. People flock to nearby ponds and Naag temples to worship the serpentine deity, marking the start of the festive season in the Himalayan nation. The festival of Naag Panchami is also regarded as a festival to strengthen the bond between humans and nature. On this particular day, farmers do not dig or plough the field; instead, they worship the deity by making idols from the mud of their fields. The serpentine deity is also regarded as the god of water and rain, and according to religious belief, the house where the Naag deity resides is bestowed with wealth and prosperity. The age-old tradition of observing the festival is believed to have started when a farmer in ancient times ploughed the field on the day of Naag Panchami and a family of serpents was killed. The serpent then promised not to spare any of the family members of that farmer after his entire family was killed. The farmer had only a daughter who was married off; the serpent then went to the girl's house to take revenge and saw the daughter worshipping the serpent deity. The snake, who lost its family, returned, blessing the girl.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12598020

29 July 2025

A Nepali Hindu devotee performs rituals while worshipping the serpent deity on the day of Naag Panchami at Naag Pokhari in Kathmandu, Nepal, on July 29, 2025. The fifth day of the bright half-moon of the Shrawan month, according to the lunar calendar, is regarded as Naag Panchami, a day dedicated to serpent deities. People flock to nearby ponds and Naag temples to worship the serpentine deity, marking the start of the festive season in the Himalayan nation. The festival of Naag Panchami is also regarded as a festival to strengthen the bond between humans and nature. On this particular day, farmers do not dig or plough the field; instead, they worship the deity by making idols from the mud of their fields. The serpentine deity is also regarded as the god of water and rain, and according to religious belief, the house where the Naag deity resides is bestowed with wealth and prosperity. The age-old tradition of observing the festival is believed to have started when a farmer in ancient times ploughed the field on the day of Naag Panchami and a family of serpents was killed. The serpent then promised not to spare any of the family members of that farmer after his entire family was killed. The farmer had only a daughter who was married off; the serpent then went to the girl's house to take revenge and saw the daughter worshipping the serpent deity. The snake, who lost its family, returned, blessing the girl.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12598021

29 July 2025

A Nepali Hindu devotee performs rituals while worshipping the serpent deity on the day of Naag Panchami at Naag Pokhari in Kathmandu, Nepal, on July 29, 2025. The fifth day of the bright half-moon of the Shrawan month, according to the lunar calendar, is regarded as Naag Panchami, a day dedicated to serpent deities. People flock to nearby ponds and Naag temples to worship the serpentine deity, marking the start of the festive season in the Himalayan nation. The festival of Naag Panchami is also regarded as a festival to strengthen the bond between humans and nature. On this particular day, farmers do not dig or plough the field; instead, they worship the deity by making idols from the mud of their fields. The serpentine deity is also regarded as the god of water and rain, and according to religious belief, the house where the Naag deity resides is bestowed with wealth and prosperity. The age-old tradition of observing the festival is believed to have started when a farmer in ancient times ploughed the field on the day of Naag Panchami and a family of serpents was killed. The serpent then promised not to spare any of the family members of that farmer after his entire family was killed. The farmer had only a daughter who was married off; the serpent then went to the girl's house to take revenge and saw the daughter worshipping the serpent deity. The snake, who lost its family, returned, blessing the girl.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12598022

29 July 2025

A Nepali Hindu devotee performs rituals while worshipping the serpent deity on the day of Naag Panchami at Naag Pokhari in Kathmandu, Nepal, on July 29, 2025. The fifth day of the bright half-moon of the Shrawan month, according to the lunar calendar, is regarded as Naag Panchami, a day dedicated to serpent deities. People flock to nearby ponds and Naag temples to worship the serpentine deity, marking the start of the festive season in the Himalayan nation. The festival of Naag Panchami is also regarded as a festival to strengthen the bond between humans and nature. On this particular day, farmers do not dig or plough the field; instead, they worship the deity by making idols from the mud of their fields. The serpentine deity is also regarded as the god of water and rain, and according to religious belief, the house where the Naag deity resides is bestowed with wealth and prosperity. The age-old tradition of observing the festival is believed to have started when a farmer in ancient times ploughed the field on the day of Naag Panchami and a family of serpents was killed. The serpent then promised not to spare any of the family members of that farmer after his entire family was killed. The farmer had only a daughter who was married off; the serpent then went to the girl's house to take revenge and saw the daughter worshipping the serpent deity. The snake, who lost its family, returned, blessing the girl.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12598023

29 July 2025

A Nepali Hindu devotee performs rituals while worshipping the serpent deity on the day of Naag Panchami at Naag Pokhari in Kathmandu, Nepal, on July 29, 2025. The fifth day of the bright half-moon of the Shrawan month, according to the lunar calendar, is regarded as Naag Panchami, a day dedicated to serpent deities. People flock to nearby ponds and Naag temples to worship the serpentine deity, marking the start of the festive season in the Himalayan nation. The festival of Naag Panchami is also regarded as a festival to strengthen the bond between humans and nature. On this particular day, farmers do not dig or plough the field; instead, they worship the deity by making idols from the mud of their fields. The serpentine deity is also regarded as the god of water and rain, and according to religious belief, the house where the Naag deity resides is bestowed with wealth and prosperity. The age-old tradition of observing the festival is believed to have started when a farmer in ancient times ploughed the field on the day of Naag Panchami and a family of serpents was killed. The serpent then promised not to spare any of the family members of that farmer after his entire family was killed. The farmer had only a daughter who was married off; the serpent then went to the girl's house to take revenge and saw the daughter worshipping the serpent deity. The snake, who lost its family, returned, blessing the girl.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12598027

29 July 2025

A Nepali Hindu devotee performs rituals while worshipping the serpent deity on the day of Naag Panchami at Naag Pokhari in Kathmandu, Nepal, on July 29, 2025. The fifth day of the bright half-moon of the Shrawan month, according to the lunar calendar, is regarded as Naag Panchami, a day dedicated to serpent deities. People flock to nearby ponds and Naag temples to worship the serpentine deity, marking the start of the festive season in the Himalayan nation. The festival of Naag Panchami is also regarded as a festival to strengthen the bond between humans and nature. On this particular day, farmers do not dig or plough the field; instead, they worship the deity by making idols from the mud of their fields. The serpentine deity is also regarded as the god of water and rain, and according to religious belief, the house where the Naag deity resides is bestowed with wealth and prosperity. The age-old tradition of observing the festival is believed to have started when a farmer in ancient times ploughed the field on the day of Naag Panchami and a family of serpents was killed. The serpent then promised not to spare any of the family members of that farmer after his entire family was killed. The farmer had only a daughter who was married off; the serpent then went to the girl's house to take revenge and saw the daughter worshipping the serpent deity. The snake, who lost its family, returned, blessing the girl.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12598028

29 July 2025

A Nepali Hindu devotee performs rituals while worshipping the serpent deity on the day of Naag Panchami at Naag Pokhari in Kathmandu, Nepal, on July 29, 2025. The fifth day of the bright half-moon of the Shrawan month, according to the lunar calendar, is regarded as Naag Panchami, a day dedicated to serpent deities. People flock to nearby ponds and Naag temples to worship the serpentine deity, marking the start of the festive season in the Himalayan nation. The festival of Naag Panchami is also regarded as a festival to strengthen the bond between humans and nature. On this particular day, farmers do not dig or plough the field; instead, they worship the deity by making idols from the mud of their fields. The serpentine deity is also regarded as the god of water and rain, and according to religious belief, the house where the Naag deity resides is bestowed with wealth and prosperity. The age-old tradition of observing the festival is believed to have started when a farmer in ancient times ploughed the field on the day of Naag Panchami and a family of serpents was killed. The serpent then promised not to spare any of the family members of that farmer after his entire family was killed. The farmer had only a daughter who was married off; the serpent then went to the girl's house to take revenge and saw the daughter worshipping the serpent deity. The snake, who lost its family, returned, blessing the girl.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12598030

29 July 2025

A Nepali Hindu devotee performs rituals while worshipping the serpent deity on the day of Naag Panchami at Naag Pokhari in Kathmandu, Nepal, on July 29, 2025. The fifth day of the bright half-moon of the Shrawan month, according to the lunar calendar, is regarded as Naag Panchami, a day dedicated to serpent deities. People flock to nearby ponds and Naag temples to worship the serpentine deity, marking the start of the festive season in the Himalayan nation. The festival of Naag Panchami is also regarded as a festival to strengthen the bond between humans and nature. On this particular day, farmers do not dig or plough the field; instead, they worship the deity by making idols from the mud of their fields. The serpentine deity is also regarded as the god of water and rain, and according to religious belief, the house where the Naag deity resides is bestowed with wealth and prosperity. The age-old tradition of observing the festival is believed to have started when a farmer in ancient times ploughed the field on the day of Naag Panchami and a family of serpents was killed. The serpent then promised not to spare any of the family members of that farmer after his entire family was killed. The farmer had only a daughter who was married off; the serpent then went to the girl's house to take revenge and saw the daughter worshipping the serpent deity. The snake, who lost its family, returned, blessing the girl.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12598014

29 July 2025

Nepali Hindu devotees stand in a queue waiting for their turn to worship and make offerings to the serpent deity on the day of Naag Panchami at Naag Pokhari in Kathmandu, Nepal, on July 29, 2025. The fifth day of the bright half-moon of the Shrawan month, as per the lunar calendar, is regarded as Naag Panchami, a day dedicated to serpent deities. People flock to nearby ponds and Naag temples to worship the serpentine deity, marking the start of the festive season in the Himalayan nation. The festival of Naag Panchami is also regarded as a festival to strengthen the bond between humans and nature. On this particular day, farmers do not dig or plough the field; instead, they worship the deity by making idols from the mud of their fields. The serpentine deity is also regarded as the god of water and rain, and according to religious belief, the house where the Naag deity resides is bestowed with wealth and prosperity. According to belief, the age-old tradition of observing the festival started when a farmer in ancient times ploughed the field on the day of Naag Panchami and a family of serpents was killed. The serpent then promised not to spare any of the family members of that farmer after his entire family was killed. The farmer had only a daughter who was also married off; the serpent then went to the girl's house to take revenge and saw the daughter worshipping the serpent deity. The snake, who lost its family, returned, blessing the girl.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.