"Nepali Hindu devotees are undergoing a month-long Swosthani..."

#11994394

29 January 2025

The reflection of Nepali Hindu devotees undergoing Swosthani Brata Katha appears in the flowing Bagmati River as they begin ''Pardes Yatra'' from Pashupati in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 29, 2025. They travel about 13.5 kilometers on foot to Pashupatinath Temple as part of their first ''Pardes Yatra,'' which is a ritual performed during the month-long Swosthani Brata (fasting). According to tradition, women undertaking the month-long Swosthani Brata travel in groups to Narayan and Shiva temples within and around Kathmandu. The fasting devotees, barefoot, reach Bajrayogini, Pashupatinath, Shesha Narayan of Pharping, Panauti, and Changunarayan to perform rituals. Devotees who fast for a month do not eat food cooked by others, excluding salt and other spices. They only eat rice, beaten rice, sugar, ghee, sugar candy, molasses, spinach from Patan, and peas, which are considered sacred. The annual ritual of Swosthani Brata Katha starts on the full moon day of Poush (the 9th month of the Lunar Calendar), initiating the recitation of religious sermons.

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#11994421

29 January 2025

The reflection of Nepali Hindu devotees undergoing Swosthani Brata Katha appears in the flowing Bagmati River as they begin ''Pardes Yatra'' from Pashupati in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 29, 2025. They travel about 13.5 kilometers on foot to Pashupatinath Temple as part of their first ''Pardes Yatra,'' which is a ritual performed during the month-long Swosthani Brata (fasting). According to tradition, women undertaking the month-long Swosthani Brata travel in groups to Narayan and Shiva temples within and around Kathmandu. The fasting devotees, barefoot, reach Bajrayogini, Pashupatinath, Shesha Narayan of Pharping, Panauti, and Changunarayan to perform rituals. Devotees who fast for a month do not eat food cooked by others, excluding salt and other spices. They only eat rice, beaten rice, sugar, ghee, sugar candy, molasses, spinach from Patan, and peas, which are considered sacred. The annual ritual of Swosthani Brata Katha starts on the full moon day of Poush (the 9th month of the Lunar Calendar), initiating the recitation of religious sermons.

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#11994422

29 January 2025

The reflection of Nepali Hindu devotees undergoing Swosthani Brata Katha appears in the flowing Bagmati River as they begin ''Pardes Yatra'' from Pashupati in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 29, 2025. They travel about 13.5 kilometers on foot to Pashupatinath Temple as part of their first ''Pardes Yatra,'' which is a ritual performed during the month-long Swosthani Brata (fasting). According to tradition, women undertaking the month-long Swosthani Brata travel in groups to Narayan and Shiva temples within and around Kathmandu. The fasting devotees, barefoot, reach Bajrayogini, Pashupatinath, Shesha Narayan of Pharping, Panauti, and Changunarayan to perform rituals. Devotees who fast for a month do not eat food cooked by others, excluding salt and other spices. They only eat rice, beaten rice, sugar, ghee, sugar candy, molasses, spinach from Patan, and peas, which are considered sacred. The annual ritual of Swosthani Brata Katha starts on the full moon day of Poush (the 9th month of the Lunar Calendar), initiating the recitation of religious sermons.

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#10977241

9 February 2024

Nepali Hindu devotees are undergoing a month-long Swosthani Brata and are seen collecting water from the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 9, 2024. They are performing arduous fasting rituals based on the ''Swasthani Brata Katha,'' a Nepali Hindu scripture, to worship Goddess Swasthani, who is believed to grant the wishes of those who appease her. The fasting devotees are traveling to various religious sites inside and outside the Kathmandu Valley.

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#10977243

9 February 2024

Nepali Hindu devotees are undergoing a month-long Swosthani Brata and are seen collecting water from the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 9, 2024. They are performing arduous fasting rituals based on the ''Swasthani Brata Katha,'' a Nepali Hindu scripture, to worship Goddess Swasthani, who is believed to grant the wishes of those who appease her. The fasting devotees are traveling to various religious sites inside and outside the Kathmandu Valley.

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#10977226

9 February 2024

Nepali Hindu devotees are standing alongside the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 9, 2024, to perform rituals as part of the month-long Swosthani Brata. They are undergoing arduous fasting and performing rituals based on the ''Swasthani Brata Katha,'' a Nepali Hindu scripture, to worship Goddess Swasthani. It is believed that appeasing the goddess will grant the wishes of the devotees. The fasting devotees are traveling to various religious sites inside and outside the Kathmandu Valley.

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#10977235

9 February 2024

Nepali Hindu devotees are taking dips in the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 9, 2024, as part of the month-long Swosthani Brata. They are undergoing arduous fasting and performing rituals based on the ''Swasthani Brata Katha,'' a Nepali Hindu scripture that worships Goddess Swasthani. It is believed that appeasing the goddess will grant the wishes of the devotees. The fasting devotees are traveling to various religious sites inside and outside the Kathmandu Valley.

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#10977239

9 February 2024

Nepali Hindu devotees are standing alongside the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 9, 2024, to perform rituals as part of the month-long Swosthani Brata. They are undergoing arduous fasting and performing rituals based on the ''Swasthani Brata Katha,'' a Nepali Hindu scripture, to worship Goddess Swasthani. It is believed that appeasing the goddess will grant the wishes of the devotees. The fasting devotees are traveling to various religious sites inside and outside the Kathmandu Valley.

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#10977240

9 February 2024

Nepali Hindu devotees are standing alongside the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 9, 2024, to perform rituals as part of the month-long Swosthani Brata. They are undergoing arduous fasting and performing rituals based on the ''Swasthani Brata Katha,'' a Nepali Hindu scripture, to worship Goddess Swasthani. It is believed that appeasing the goddess will grant the wishes of the devotees. The fasting devotees are traveling to various religious sites inside and outside the Kathmandu Valley.

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#10977244

9 February 2024

Nepali Hindu devotees are performing rituals alongside the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 9, 2024, as part of the month-long Swosthani Brata. They are undergoing arduous fasting and performing rituals based on the ''Swasthani Brata Katha,'' a Nepali Hindu scripture that worships Goddess Swasthani. It is believed that appeasing the Goddess will grant the wishes of the devotees. The fasting devotees are traveling to various religious sites inside and outside the Kathmandu Valley.

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#10977245

9 February 2024

Nepali Hindu devotees are performing rituals alongside the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 9, 2024, as part of the month-long Swosthani Brata. They are undergoing arduous fasting and performing rituals based on the ''Swasthani Brata Katha,'' a Nepali Hindu scripture that worships Goddess Swasthani. It is believed that appeasing the Goddess will grant the wishes of the devotees. The fasting devotees are traveling to various religious sites inside and outside the Kathmandu Valley.

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#10977225

9 February 2024

A Nepali Hindu devotee, who is undergoing the month-long Swosthani Brata, is climbing down the stairs of Pashupatinath Temple as she prepares to take a bath in the holy Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 9, 2024. Nepali Hindu devotees are undergoing arduous fasting and performing rituals of Swasthani, based on the ''Swasthani Brata Katha,'' a Nepali Hindu scripture. They worship Goddess Swasthani, who, when appeased, is believed to grant the wishes of the devotees.

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#10977238

9 February 2024

A Nepali Hindu devotee is performing rituals alongside the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 9, 2024, as part of the month-long Swosthani Brata. Nepali Hindu devotees are undergoing arduous fasting and performing rituals based on the ''Swasthani Brata Katha,'' a Nepali Hindu scripture that worships Goddess Swasthani. It is believed that appeasing the Goddess grants the wishes of the devotees. The fasting devotees are traveling to various religious sites inside and outside the Kathmandu Valley.

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#10977236

9 February 2024

A Nepali Hindu devotee, who is observing the month-long Swosthani Brata, is applying vermillion powder on the forehead of a fellow fast keeper while sitting alongside the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 9, 2024. Nepali Hindu devotees are undergoing arduous fasting and performing rituals of Swasthani, based on the ''Swasthani Brata Katha,'' a Nepali Hindu scripture. They worship Goddess Swasthani, who is believed to grant the wishes of those who appease her. The fasting devotees are traveling to various locations inside and outside the Kathmandu Valley, visiting religious sites.

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#10977242

9 February 2024

A Nepali Hindu devotee is sitting on the embankments of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 9, 2024, to collect water from the river as part of the month-long Swosthani Brata. Nepali Hindu devotees are undergoing arduous fasting and performing rituals based on the ''Swasthani Brata Katha,'' a Nepali Hindu scripture, to worship Goddess Swasthani. They believe that by appeasing the goddess, she will grant their wishes. The fasting devotees are traveling to various locations inside and outside the Kathmandu Valley, visiting religious sites.

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#10977246

9 February 2024

A Nepali Hindu devotee is sitting on the embankments of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 9, 2024, while performing rituals as part of the month-long Swosthani Brata. Nepali Hindu devotees are undergoing arduous fasting and performing rituals based on the ''Swasthani Brata Katha,'' a Nepali Hindu scripture. They worship Goddess Swasthani, who is believed to grant the wishes of those who appease her. The fasting devotees are traveling to various locations inside and outside the Kathmandu Valley, visiting religious sites.

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