"gods and goddesses"

#12816756

1 October 2025

GRAPHIC CONTENT: Nepalese Army personnel sacrifice a goat as an offering to the Gods and Goddesses during Maha Nawami, the ninth day of the Dashain festival, at Kathmandu Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 1, 2025. Dashain, Nepal's longest and most important Hindu festival, symbolizes the victory of good over evil. On Maha Nawami, animals such as goats, ducks, roosters, and buffaloes are ritually sacrificed at temples dedicated to the goddesses, while some devotees offer fruits and vegetables as symbolic substitutes.

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#12816759

1 October 2025

GRAPHIC CONTENT: Nepalese Army personnel sacrifice a goat as an offering to the Gods and Goddesses during Maha Nawami, the ninth day of the Dashain festival, at Kathmandu Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 1, 2025. Dashain, Nepal's longest and most important Hindu festival, symbolizes the victory of good over evil. On Maha Nawami, animals such as goats, ducks, roosters, and buffaloes are ritually sacrificed at temples dedicated to the goddesses, while some devotees offer fruits and vegetables as symbolic substitutes.

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#12816761

1 October 2025

GRAPHIC CONTENT: Nepalese Army personnel sacrifice a goat as an offering to the Gods and Goddesses during Maha Nawami, the ninth day of the Dashain festival, at Kathmandu Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 1, 2025. Dashain, Nepal's longest and most important Hindu festival, symbolizes the victory of good over evil. On Maha Nawami, animals such as goats, ducks, roosters, and buffaloes are ritually sacrificed at temples dedicated to the goddesses, while some devotees offer fruits and vegetables as symbolic substitutes.

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#12816762

1 October 2025

GRAPHIC CONTENT: Nepalese Army personnel sacrifice a goat as an offering to the Gods and Goddesses during Maha Nawami, the ninth day of the Dashain festival, at Kathmandu Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 1, 2025. Dashain, Nepal's longest and most important Hindu festival, symbolizes the victory of good over evil. On Maha Nawami, animals such as goats, ducks, roosters, and buffaloes are ritually sacrificed at temples dedicated to the goddesses, while some devotees offer fruits and vegetables as symbolic substitutes.

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#12810454

29 September 2025

Offerings for the Goddess Durga are seen during the Durga Puja festival at a pandal (temporary temple) in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on September 28, 2025. Hundreds of Bengalis who have migrated to Canada from Kolkata, India, attend the celebration. Durga Puja is one of the largest Hindu festivals that involves the worship of Goddess Durga, symbolizing the power and triumph of good over evil in Hindu mythology.

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#12810458

29 September 2025

Candles burn as a Bengali Hindu priest performs special prayers during the Durga Puja festival at a pandal in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on September 28, 2025. Hundreds of Bengalis who have migrated to Canada from Kolkata, India, attend the celebration. Durga Puja is one of the largest Hindu festivals that involves the worship of Goddess Durga, symbolizing the power and triumph of good over evil in Hindu mythology.

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#12810459

29 September 2025

A woman blows the conch during the Durga Puja festival at a pandal (temporary temple) in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on September 28, 2025. Hundreds of Bengalis, who have migrated to Canada from Kolkata, India, attend the celebration. Durga Puja is one of the largest Hindu festivals that involves the worship of Goddess Durga, symbolizing the power and triumph of good over evil in Hindu mythology.

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#12810460

29 September 2025

A Bengali Hindu priest performs special prayers during the Durga Puja festival at a pandal (temporary temple) in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on September 28, 2025. Hundreds of Bengalis who have migrated to Canada from Kolkata, India, attend the celebration. Durga Puja is one of the largest Hindu festivals that involves the worship of Goddess Durga, symbolizing the power and triumph of good over evil in Hindu mythology.

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#12810479

29 September 2025

An idol of Goddess Durga is decorated during the Durga Puja festival at a pandal (temporary temple) in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on September 28, 2025. Hundreds of Bengalis who have migrated to Canada from Kolkata, India, attend the celebration. Durga Puja is one of the largest Hindu festivals that involves the worship of Goddess Durga, symbolizing the power and triumph of good over evil in Hindu mythology.

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#12810490

29 September 2025

Offerings for the Goddess Durga are seen during the Durga Puja festival at a pandal (temporary temple) in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on September 28, 2025. Hundreds of Bengalis who have migrated to Canada from Kolkata, India, attend the celebration. Durga Puja is one of the largest Hindu festivals that involves the worship of Goddess Durga, symbolizing the power and triumph of good over evil in Hindu mythology.

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#12810500

29 September 2025

Bengali Hindus offer prayers during the Durga Puja festival at a pandal (temporary temple) in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on September 28, 2025. Hundreds of Bengalis who have migrated to Canada from Kolkata, India, attend the celebration. Durga Puja is one of the largest Hindu festivals that involves the worship of Goddess Durga, symbolizing the power and triumph of good over evil in Hindu mythology.

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#12810506

29 September 2025

Bengali Hindus perform special prayers during the Durga Puja festival at a pandal (temporary temple) in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on September 28, 2025. Hundreds of Bengalis who have migrated to Canada from Kolkata, India, attend the celebration. Durga Puja is one of the largest Hindu festivals that involves the worship of Goddess Durga, symbolizing the power and triumph of good over evil in Hindu mythology.

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#12810510

29 September 2025

Bengali Hindus perform special prayers during the Durga Puja festival at a pandal (temporary temple) in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on September 28, 2025. Hundreds of Bengalis who have migrated to Canada from Kolkata, India, attend the celebration. Durga Puja is one of the largest Hindu festivals that involves the worship of Goddess Durga, symbolizing the power and triumph of good over evil in Hindu mythology.

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#12801676

27 September 2025

Religious volunteers carry necessary items and march towards the Sikali Jatra venue in Khokana of Lalitpur on September 27, 2025. Masked dancers in the form of various Hindu deities take flights on air as they tour around the temple of ''Shikali.'' It is an age-old tradition celebrated in Khokana as a substitution for the fortnightly festival of Dashain. Khokana, a medieval Newari heritage village in the southern Kathmandu Valley, observes Shikali Jatra for 5 days, dedicating it to the goddess ''Shikali,'' who is also known as ''Ajima'' or Mother Goddess. Gods and goddesses in human form take flights as they tour around the Sikali temple, which is located on a grassy hill just outside the village. It starts with Goddess Rudrayani or Shikali being carried in a wooden chariot throughout the village and rested in front of the temple in Khokana, along with various religious copper vessels. The Jatra witnesses ''Tantric'' rituals along with masked dances garbed in colorful attires during the festival, representing 14 gods and goddesses of the Hindu Pantheon. Priests clad in white robes, along with 14 masked deities, come together to perform the dance. It is believed that the goddess protects their town from misfortunes and prevents calamities, and it is regarded as an occasion for the farmers to rejoice in the post-harvest season. The dances shown during the Jatra are based on various religious beliefs and perceptions.

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#12801674

27 September 2025

Devotees attend the annual Shikali Jatra in Khokana, Lalitpur, on September 27, 2025. Masked dancers in the form of various Hindu deities take flights on air as they tour around the temple of ''Shikali.'' It is an age-old tradition celebrated in Khokana as a substitution for the fortnightly festival of Dashain. Khokana, a medieval Newari heritage village in the Southern Kathmandu Valley, observes Shikali Jatra for 5 days, dedicating it to the goddess ''Shikali,'' who is also known as ''Ajima'' or Mother Goddess. Gods and goddesses in human form take flights as they tour around the Sikali temple, which is located on a grassy hill just outside the village. The festival starts with Goddess Rudrayani or Shikali being carried in a wooden chariot throughout the village and rested in front of the temple in Khokana, along with various religious copper vessels. The Jatra witnesses ''Tantric'' rituals along with masked dances garbed in colorful attires, representing 14 gods and goddesses of the Hindu Pantheon. Priests clad in white robes, along with 14 masked deities, come together to perform dances. It is believed that the goddess protects the town from misfortunes and prevents calamities, and it is regarded as an occasion for the farmers to rejoice in the post-harvest season. The dances shown during the Jatra are based on various religious beliefs and perceptions.

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#12801675

27 September 2025

Devotees attend the annual Shikali Jatra in Khokana, Lalitpur, on September 27, 2025. Masked dancers in the form of various Hindu deities take flights on air as they tour around the temple of ''Shikali.'' It is an age-old tradition celebrated in Khokana as a substitution for the fortnightly festival of Dashain. Khokana, a medieval Newari heritage village in the Southern Kathmandu Valley, observes Shikali Jatra for 5 days, dedicating it to the goddess ''Shikali,'' who is also known as ''Ajima'' or Mother Goddess. Gods and goddesses in human form take flights as they tour around the Sikali temple, which is located on a grassy hill just outside the village. The festival starts with Goddess Rudrayani or Shikali being carried in a wooden chariot throughout the village and rested in front of the temple in Khokana, along with various religious copper vessels. The Jatra witnesses ''Tantric'' rituals along with masked dances garbed in colorful attires, representing 14 gods and goddesses of the Hindu Pantheon. Priests clad in white robes, along with 14 masked deities, come together to perform dances. It is believed that the goddess protects the town from misfortunes and prevents calamities, and it is regarded as an occasion for the farmers to rejoice in the post-harvest season. The dances shown during the Jatra are based on various religious beliefs and perceptions.

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