"ancient scriptures"

#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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#12698183

31 August 2025

A Nepali Hindu woman carries the symbolic idol of Goddess Parvati during a procession in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 31, 2025, to celebrate the late summer festival of ''Gaura,'' singing songs of faith and struggle. 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 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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#12698184

31 August 2025

Participants dance and narrate stories while celebrating 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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#12698185

31 August 2025

Participants dance and narrate stories while celebrating 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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#12698186

31 August 2025

A Nepali Hindu woman carries the symbolic idol of Goddess Parvati during a procession in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 31, 2025, to celebrate the late summer festival of ''Gaura,'' singing songs of faith and struggle. 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 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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#3059650

22 August 2018

An Indian Muslims offer prayer 'Namaz' at Idgah Mosque in Jaipur-Delhi National Highway-8 on the occasion of Eid-al-Adha ,in Jaipur , Rajasthan,India ,August 22,2018.Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid al-Adha or the Festival of Sacrifice, the second biggest Muslim religious festival. Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha by slaughtering bovine animals, livestock including camels, sheep, goats and cows to pay tribute to the prophet Abraham's devotion to Allah (Lord). According to religious scriptures Abraham was ready to sacrifice his son, the Prophet Ismael, on the order of Allah (Lord) who was testing his faith, but when Abraham raised his dagger toward his son, the archangel Gabriel offered a lamb in Ismael's place.(Photo By Vishal Bhatnagar/NurPhoto)

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#4930756

29 September 2019

Ancient text carved in the stone of the Brihadeeswarar Temple (also known as Brihadisvara Temple, Brihadishvara Temple, Big temple, RajaRajeswara Temple, Rajarajeswaram and Peruvudayar Temple) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is one of the largest temples in India and is an example of Dravidian architecture built during the Chola period by Raja Raja Chola I and completed in 1010 CE. The temple is over 1000 years old and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the 'Great Living Chola Temples', comprising of the Brihadeeswarar Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Airavatesvara temple.

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#4930770

29 September 2019

Ancient text carved in the stone of the Brihadeeswarar Temple (also known as Brihadisvara Temple, Brihadishvara Temple, Big temple, RajaRajeswara Temple, Rajarajeswaram and Peruvudayar Temple) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is one of the largest temples in India and is an example of Dravidian architecture built during the Chola period by Raja Raja Chola I and completed in 1010 CE. The temple is over 1000 years old and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the 'Great Living Chola Temples', comprising of the Brihadeeswarar Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Airavatesvara temple.

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#13313268

13 February 2026

The large-scale flower lanterns are themed with the Twelve Flowers Deities in Taierzhuang Ancient Town, Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province, on February 12, 2026.

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#13313269

13 February 2026

The large-scale flower lanterns are themed with the Twelve Flowers Deities in Taierzhuang Ancient Town, Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province, on February 12, 2026.

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#13037388

29 November 2025

The Patan Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Lalitpur district, Nepal, stands in the foreground as the Himalayan ranges shine in the background in Lalitpur, Nepal, on November 29, 2025.

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#13037389

29 November 2025

The Patan Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Lalitpur district, Nepal, stands in the foreground as the Himalayan ranges shine in the background in Lalitpur, Nepal, on November 29, 2025.

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#13037390

29 November 2025

The Patan Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Lalitpur district, Nepal, stands in the foreground as the Himalayan ranges shine in the background in Lalitpur, Nepal, on November 29, 2025.

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#12925089

30 October 2025

A view of the Palacio de Quetzalpapalotl courtyard in Teotihuacan, Mexico on October 29, 2025.

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#12925088

30 October 2025

A view of the Palacio de Quetzalpapalotl courtyard in Teotihuacan, Mexico on October 29, 2025.

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#12889375

21 October 2025

AYIA NAPA, CYPRUS – OCTOBER 19: Contemporary sculptures of mythical beasts and ancient gods are seen inside the Sculpture Open Park in Ayia Napa, Famagusta District, Cyprus, on October 19, 2025.

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