"Shiva and Parvati"

#12698178

31 August 2025

Nepali Hindu women dance in a circle to celebrate the late summer festival of ''Gaura,'' singing songs of faith and struggle in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 31, 2025. The festival, observed for five days and led primarily by women, has roots in ancient scriptures and centers on the worship of Goddess Gaura, also known as Hindu goddess Parvati, and her union with Lord Shiva. The word Gaura refers to Gauri, another name for Goddess Parvati, and there are more than one thousand eight hundred names for her in total. Gaura Parva commemorates Parvati's penance to win Shiva as her husband. It marks the divine marriage between the two deities, an event mentioned in the Himavat Khanda, a segment of the Skanda Purana in Hinduism and several other Puranas. In these accounts, Parvati, the daughter of the Himalaya, worships Shiva through strict fasting. Her devotion eventually results in their union, which devotees continue to celebrate every year. The Manas Khanda section of the Skanda Purana places Gaura's origins in the Himalayan region, specifically among communities in Kumaon, Uttarakhand, India. The festival is most prominently celebrated in Nepal across the far-western districts of Doti, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Darchula, Bajhang, Achham, and Bajura. It falls in August or September, depending on the lunar calendar.

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#12698179

31 August 2025

A Nepali reveler watches the celebration of the late summer festival of ''Gaura,'' singing songs of faith and struggle in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 31, 2025. The festival, observed for five days and led primarily by women, has roots in ancient scriptures and centers on the worship of Goddess Gaura, also known as the Hindu goddess Parvati, and her union with Lord Shiva. The word Gaura refers to Gauri, another name for Goddess Parvati, and there are more than one thousand eight hundred names for her in total. Gaura Parva commemorates Parvati's penance to win Shiva as her husband. It marks the divine marriage between the two deities, an event mentioned in the Himavat Khanda, a segment of the Skanda Purana in Hinduism and several other Puranas. In these accounts, Parvati, the daughter of the Himalaya, worships Shiva through strict fasting. Her devotion eventually results in their union, which devotees continue to celebrate every year. The Manas Khanda section of the Skanda Purana places Gaura's origins in the Himalayan region, specifically among communities in Kumaon, Uttarakhand, India. The festival is most prominently celebrated in Nepal across the far-western districts of Doti, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Darchula, Bajhang, Achham, and Bajura. It falls in August or September, depending on the lunar calendar.

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#12698180

31 August 2025

A Nepali reveler watches the celebration of the late summer festival of ''Gaura,'' singing songs of faith and struggle, while smoking in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 31, 2025. The festival, observed for five days and led primarily by women, has roots in ancient scriptures and centers on the worship of Goddess Gaura, also known as the Hindu goddess Parvati, and her union with Lord Shiva. The word Gaura refers to Gauri, another name for Goddess Parvati, and there are more than one thousand eight hundred names for her in total. Gaura Parva commemorates Parvati's penance to win Shiva as her husband. It marks the divine marriage between the two deities, an event mentioned in the Himavat Khanda, a segment of the Skanda Purana in Hinduism and several other Puranas. In these accounts, Parvati, the daughter of the Himalaya, worships Shiva through strict fasting. Her devotion eventually results in their union, which devotees continue to celebrate every year. The Manas Khanda section of the Skanda Purana places Gaura's origins in the Himalayan region, specifically among communities in Kumaon, Uttarakhand, India. The festival is most prominently celebrated in Nepal across the far-western districts of Doti, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Darchula, Bajhang, Achham, and Bajura. It falls in August or September, depending on the lunar calendar.

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#12698181

31 August 2025

A Nepali reveler watches the celebration of the late summer festival of ''Gaura,'' singing songs of faith and struggle, while smoking in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 31, 2025. The festival, observed for five days and led primarily by women, has roots in ancient scriptures and centers on the worship of Goddess Gaura, also known as the Hindu goddess Parvati, and her union with Lord Shiva. The word Gaura refers to Gauri, another name for Goddess Parvati, and there are more than one thousand eight hundred names for her in total. Gaura Parva commemorates Parvati's penance to win Shiva as her husband. It marks the divine marriage between the two deities, an event mentioned in the Himavat Khanda, a segment of the Skanda Purana in Hinduism and several other Puranas. In these accounts, Parvati, the daughter of the Himalaya, worships Shiva through strict fasting. Her devotion eventually results in their union, which devotees continue to celebrate every year. The Manas Khanda section of the Skanda Purana places Gaura's origins in the Himalayan region, specifically among communities in Kumaon, Uttarakhand, India. The festival is most prominently celebrated in Nepal across the far-western districts of Doti, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Darchula, Bajhang, Achham, and Bajura. It falls in August or September, depending on the lunar calendar.

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#12698182

31 August 2025

Nepali revelers watch the celebration of the late summer festival of ''Gaura,'' singing songs of faith and struggle while smoking in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 31, 2025. The festival, observed for five days and led primarily by women, has roots in ancient scriptures and centers on the worship of Goddess Gaura, also known as the Hindu goddess Parvati, and her union with Lord Shiva. The word Gaura refers to Gauri, another name for Goddess Parvati, and there are more than one thousand eight hundred names of her in total. Gaura Parva commemorates Parvati's penance to win Shiva as her husband. It marks the divine marriage between the two deities, an event mentioned in the Himavat Khanda, a segment of the Skanda Purana in Hinduism and several other Puranas. In these accounts, Parvati, the daughter of the Himalaya, worships Shiva through strict fasting. Her devotion eventually results in their union, which devotees continue to celebrate every year. The Manas Khanda section of the Skanda Purana places Gaura's origins in the Himalayan region, specifically among communities in Kumaon, Uttarakhand, India. The festival is most prominently celebrated in Nepal across the far-western districts of Doti, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Darchula, Bajhang, Achham, and Bajura. It falls in August or September, depending on the lunar calendar.

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#12697843

31 August 2025

Residents from the Far-Western part of Nepal temporarily living in the capital, Kathmandu, take part in the Gaura celebration organized in Tundikhel, Kathmandu, on August 31, 2025. This festival, predominantly observed in the Far-Western region of Nepal, lasts for three days, during which female members of the family fast tirelessly for three days, worshipping Shiva and Parvati along with Ganesh.

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#12697819

31 August 2025

Residents from the Far-Western part of Nepal temporarily living in the capital, Kathmandu, take part in the Gaura celebration organized in Tundikhel, Kathmandu, on August 31, 2025. This festival, predominantly observed in the Far-Western region of Nepal, lasts for three days, during which female members of the family fast tirelessly for three days, worshipping Shiva and Parvati along with Ganesh.

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#12697867

31 August 2025

Residents from the Far-Western part of Nepal temporarily living in the capital, Kathmandu, take part in the Gaura celebration organized in Tundikhel, Kathmandu, on August 31, 2025. This festival, predominantly observed in the Far-Western region of Nepal, lasts for three days, during which female members of the family fast tirelessly for three days, worshipping Shiva and Parvati along with Ganesh.

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#12697886

31 August 2025

Residents from the Far-Western part of Nepal temporarily living in the capital, Kathmandu, take part in the Gaura celebration organized in Tundikhel, Kathmandu, on August 31, 2025. This festival, predominantly observed in the Far-Western region of Nepal, lasts for three days, during which female members of the family fast tirelessly for three days, worshipping Shiva and Parvati along with Ganesh.

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#12697909

31 August 2025

Residents from the Far-Western part of Nepal temporarily living in the capital, Kathmandu, take part in the Gaura celebration organized in Tundikhel, Kathmandu, on August 31, 2025. This festival, predominantly observed in the Far-Western region of Nepal, lasts for three days, during which female members of the family fast tirelessly for three days, worshipping Shiva and Parvati along with Ganesh.

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#12697927

31 August 2025

Residents from the Far-Western part of Nepal temporarily living in the capital, Kathmandu, take part in the Gaura celebration organized in Tundikhel, Kathmandu, on August 31, 2025. This festival, predominantly observed in the Far-Western region of Nepal, lasts for three days, during which female members of the family fast tirelessly for three days, worshipping Shiva and Parvati along with Ganesh.

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#12697939

31 August 2025

Residents from the Far-Western part of Nepal temporarily living in the capital, Kathmandu, take part in the Gaura celebration organized in Tundikhel, Kathmandu, on August 31, 2025. This festival, predominantly observed in the Far-Western region of Nepal, lasts for three days, during which female members of the family fast tirelessly for three days, worshipping Shiva and Parvati along with Ganesh.

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#12697953

31 August 2025

Residents from the Far-Western part of Nepal temporarily living in the capital, Kathmandu, take part in the Gaura celebration organized in Tundikhel, Kathmandu, on August 31, 2025. This festival, predominantly observed in the Far-Western region of Nepal, lasts for three days, during which female members of the family fast tirelessly for three days, worshipping Shiva and Parvati along with Ganesh.

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#12697968

31 August 2025

Residents from the Far-Western part of Nepal temporarily living in the capital, Kathmandu, take part in the Gaura celebration organized in Tundikhel, Kathmandu, on August 31, 2025. This festival, predominantly observed in the Far-Western region of Nepal, lasts for three days, during which female members of the family fast tirelessly for three days, worshipping Shiva and Parvati along with Ganesh.

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#12697987

31 August 2025

Residents from the Far-Western part of Nepal temporarily living in the capital, Kathmandu, take part in the Gaura celebration organized in Tundikhel, Kathmandu, on August 31, 2025. This festival, predominantly observed in the Far-Western region of Nepal, lasts for three days, during which female members of the family fast tirelessly for three days, worshipping Shiva and Parvati along with Ganesh.

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#12698003

31 August 2025

Residents from the Far-Western part of Nepal temporarily living in the capital, Kathmandu, take part in the Gaura celebration organized in Tundikhel, Kathmandu, on August 31, 2025. This festival, predominantly observed in the Far-Western region of Nepal, lasts for three days, during which female members of the family fast tirelessly for three days, worshipping Shiva and Parvati along with Ganesh.

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