"Ritual Purity"

#12911545

26 October 2025

People worship the idol of Chhathi Maiya in Birgunj, Nepal, on October 26, 2025. The Hindu festival of Chhath, which lasts for four days, commences on Saturday with the first ritual, 'Nahay Khay,' drawing massive crowds at various ghats. Devotees throng riverbanks to take a holy dip and offer prayers to the Sun God, marking the beginning of the auspicious Chhath Mahaparv. On the second day of Chhath Puja, known as Kharna, devotees observe a fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from both food and water. The fast is broken only after making offerings to the Sun God at sunset. Dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and his sister Chhathi Maiya, the festival emphasizes purity, gratitude, and the well-being of one’s family.

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

#12911546

26 October 2025

A Nepali Hindu woman carries the bamboo baskets used during the Chhath festival as she returns home from the market in Birgunj, Nepal, on October 26, 2025. The Hindu festival of Chhath, which lasts for four days, commences on Saturday with the first ritual, 'Nahay Khay,' drawing massive crowds at various ghats. Devotees throng riverbanks to take a holy dip and offer prayers to the Sun God, marking the beginning of the auspicious Chhath Mahaparv. On the second day of Chhath Puja, known as Kharna, devotees observe a fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from both food and water. The fast is broken only after making offerings to the Sun God at sunset. Dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and his sister Chhathi Maiya, the festival emphasizes purity, gratitude, and the well-being of one's family.

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

#12911548

26 October 2025

Nepali Hindu devotees purchase bamboo baskets used during the Chhath festival in Birgunj, Nepal, on October 26, 2025. The Hindu festival of Chhath, which lasts for four days, commences on Saturday with the first ritual, 'Nahay Khay,' drawing massive crowds at various ghats. Devotees throng riverbanks to take a holy dip and offer prayers to the Sun God, marking the beginning of the auspicious Chhath Mahaparv. On the second day of Chhath Puja, known as Kharna, devotees observe a fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from both food and water. The fast is broken only after making offerings to the Sun God at sunset. Dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and his sister Chhathi Maiya, the festival emphasizes purity, gratitude, and the well-being of one's family.

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

#12911549

26 October 2025

Nepali Hindu devotees purchase citrus fruit offered during the Chhath festival in Birgunj, Nepal, on October 26, 2025. The Hindu festival of Chhath, which lasts for four days, commences on Saturday with the first ritual, 'Nahay Khay,' drawing massive crowds at various ghats. Devotees throng riverbanks to take a holy dip and offer prayers to the Sun God, marking the beginning of the auspicious Chhath Mahaparv. On the second day of Chhath Puja, known as Kharna, devotees observe a fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from both food and water. The fast is broken only after making offerings to the Sun God at sunset. Dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and his sister Chhathi Maiya, the festival emphasizes purity, gratitude, and the well-being of one's family.

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

#12911550

26 October 2025

Nepali Hindu devotees purchase citrus fruit offered during the Chhath festival in Birgunj, Nepal, on October 26, 2025. The Hindu festival of Chhath, which lasts for four days, commences on Saturday with the first ritual, 'Nahay Khay,' drawing massive crowds at various ghats. Devotees throng riverbanks to take a holy dip and offer prayers to the Sun God, marking the beginning of the auspicious Chhath Mahaparv. On the second day of Chhath Puja, known as Kharna, devotees observe a fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from both food and water. The fast is broken only after making offerings to the Sun God at sunset. Dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and his sister Chhathi Maiya, the festival emphasizes purity, gratitude, and the well-being of one's family.

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

#12911551

26 October 2025

Nepali Hindu devotees purchase sugarcane offered during the Chhath festival in Birgunj, Nepal, on October 26, 2025. The Hindu festival of Chhath, which lasts for four days, commences on Saturday with the first ritual, 'Nahay Khay,' drawing massive crowds at various ghats. Devotees throng riverbanks to take a holy dip and offer prayers to the Sun God, marking the beginning of the auspicious Chhath Mahaparv. On the second day of Chhath Puja, known as Kharna, devotees observe a fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from both food and water. The fast is broken only after making offerings to the Sun God at sunset. Dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and his sister Chhathi Maiya, the festival emphasizes purity, gratitude, and the well-being of one's family.

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

#12911553

26 October 2025

Nepali Hindu devotees purchase a fruit offered during the Chhath festival in Birgunj, Nepal, on October 26, 2025. The Hindu festival of Chhath, which lasts for four days, commences on Saturday with the first ritual, 'Nahay Khay,' drawing massive crowds at various ghats. Devotees throng riverbanks to take a holy dip and offer prayers to the Sun God, marking the beginning of the auspicious Chhath Mahaparv. On the second day of Chhath Puja, known as Kharna, devotees observe a fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from both food and water. The fast is broken only after making offerings to the Sun God at sunset. Dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and his sister Chhathi Maiya, the festival emphasizes purity, gratitude, and the well-being of one's family.

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

#12911554

26 October 2025

Nepali Hindu devotees flock to a marketplace in Birgunj, Nepal, on October 26, 2025, in preparation for the Chhath festival. The Hindu festival of Chhath, which lasts for four days, commences on Saturday with the first ritual, 'Nahay Khay,' drawing massive crowds at various ghats. Devotees throng riverbanks to take a holy dip and offer prayers to the Sun God, marking the beginning of the auspicious Chhath Mahaparv. On the second day of Chhath Puja, known as Kharna, devotees observe a fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from both food and water. The fast is broken only after making offerings to the Sun God at sunset. Dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and his sister Chhathi Maiya, the festival emphasizes purity, gratitude, and the well-being of one's family.

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

#12911555

26 October 2025

Nepali Hindu devotees flock to a marketplace in Birgunj, Nepal, on October 26, 2025, in preparation for the Chhath festival. The Hindu festival of Chhath, which lasts for four days, commences on Saturday with the first ritual, 'Nahay Khay,' drawing massive crowds at various ghats. Devotees throng riverbanks to take a holy dip and offer prayers to the Sun God, marking the beginning of the auspicious Chhath Mahaparv. On the second day of Chhath Puja, known as Kharna, devotees observe a fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from both food and water. The fast is broken only after making offerings to the Sun God at sunset. Dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and his sister Chhathi Maiya, the festival emphasizes purity, gratitude, and the well-being of one's family.

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

#12911580

26 October 2025

Nepali Hindu devotees purchase a fruit offered during the Chhath festival in Birgunj, Nepal, on October 26, 2025. The Hindu festival of Chhath, which lasts for four days, commences on Saturday with the first ritual, 'Nahay Khay,' drawing massive crowds at various ghats. Devotees throng riverbanks to take a holy dip and offer prayers to the Sun God, marking the beginning of the auspicious Chhath Mahaparv. On the second day of Chhath Puja, known as Kharna, devotees observe a fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from both food and water. The fast is broken only after making offerings to the Sun God at sunset. Dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and his sister Chhathi Maiya, the festival emphasizes purity, gratitude, and the well-being of one's family.

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

#12911581

26 October 2025

Nepali Hindu devotees purchase a fruit offered during the Chhath festival in Birgunj, Nepal, on October 26, 2025. The Hindu festival of Chhath, which lasts for four days, commences on Saturday with the first ritual, 'Nahay Khay,' drawing massive crowds at various ghats. Devotees throng riverbanks to take a holy dip and offer prayers to the Sun God, marking the beginning of the auspicious Chhath Mahaparv. On the second day of Chhath Puja, known as Kharna, devotees observe a fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from both food and water. The fast is broken only after making offerings to the Sun God at sunset. Dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and his sister Chhathi Maiya, the festival emphasizes purity, gratitude, and the well-being of one's family.

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

#12911582

26 October 2025

Lights illuminate a pond in Birgunj, Nepal, on October 26, 2025, as it prepares to host the Chhath festival. The Hindu festival of Chhath, which lasts for four days, commences on Saturday with the first ritual, 'Nahay Khay,' drawing massive crowds at various ghats. Devotees throng riverbanks to take a holy dip and offer prayers to the Sun God, marking the beginning of the auspicious Chhath Mahaparv. On the second day of Chhath Puja, known as Kharna, devotees observe a fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from both food and water. The fast is broken only after making offerings to the Sun God at sunset. Dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and his sister Chhathi Maiya, the festival emphasizes purity, gratitude, and the well-being of one's family.

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

#12911583

26 October 2025

Lights illuminate a pond in Birgunj, Nepal, on October 26, 2025, as it prepares to host the Chhath festival. The Hindu festival of Chhath, which lasts for four days, commences on Saturday with the first ritual, 'Nahay Khay,' drawing massive crowds at various ghats. Devotees throng riverbanks to take a holy dip and offer prayers to the Sun God, marking the beginning of the auspicious Chhath Mahaparv. On the second day of Chhath Puja, known as Kharna, devotees observe a fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from both food and water. The fast is broken only after making offerings to the Sun God at sunset. Dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and his sister Chhathi Maiya, the festival emphasizes purity, gratitude, and the well-being of one's family.

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

#12911584

26 October 2025

People take photos in the recently decorated Chhath pokhari in Birgunj, on October 26, 2025. The Hindu festival of Chhath, which lasts for four days, commences on Saturday with the first ritual, 'Nahay Khay,' drawing massive crowds at various ghats. Devotees throng riverbanks to take a holy dip and offer prayers to the Sun God, marking the beginning of the auspicious Chhath Mahaparv. On the second day of Chhath Puja, known as Kharna, devotees observe a fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from both food and water. The fast is broken only after making offerings to the Sun God at sunset. Dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and his sister Chhathi Maiya, the festival emphasizes purity, gratitude, and the well-being of one's family.

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

#12895775

22 October 2025

Colorful mandaps are prepared for the Mha Puja festival, a ritual of self-worship celebrated by the Newar community in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 22, 2025. Mha Puja, observed on the fourth day of the Tihar festival and the New Year according to the Nepal Sambat calendar, is performed to purify and empower the self, seeking prosperity, longevity, and spiritual well-being. During the ritual, each family member sits before an intricately made mandap -- a sacred design created on the floor using lentils, rice flour, flowers, and oil lamps -- symbolizing the soul and inner energy of the individual.

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

#12895777

22 October 2025

Colorful mandaps are prepared for the Mha Puja festival, a ritual of self-worship celebrated by the Newar community in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 22, 2025. Mha Puja, observed on the fourth day of the Tihar festival and the New Year according to the Nepal Sambat calendar, is performed to purify and empower the self, seeking prosperity, longevity, and spiritual well-being. During the ritual, each family member sits before an intricately made mandap -- a sacred design created on the floor using lentils, rice flour, flowers, and oil lamps -- symbolizing the soul and inner energy of the individual.

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