"central deities"

#12723065

6 September 2025

The Living God Ganesh, revered as the remover of obstacles, is carried during the opening day of the chariot procession of the Indra Jatra festival at Kathmandu Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 6, 2025. The chariots of Kumari, Ganesh, and Bhairab are central highlights of the celebration. The eight-day celebration honors Indra, the Hindu god of rain.

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#12704811

1 September 2025

A worker renovates the Kumari Ghar, the residence of the Living Goddess Kumari, in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 1, 2025, ahead of the upcoming Indra Jatra festival. The Kumari is regarded as one of the central deities of the festival celebrations.

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#9314692

14 December 2022

Religious statue of a female on an elephant rests at the base of the Bodhnath Stupa as Buddhist prayer flags flutter in the background. The Bodhnath Stupa is the worlds largest Buddhist stupa and is the most sacred pilgrimage site in Nepal for Tibetans and followers of Tibetan Buddhism.

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#9259130

28 November 2022

Elderly Ladakhi woman holds a hand-held prayer wheel while watching Buddhist monks perform ancient sacred dances during the Lamayuru Masked Dance Festival in Lamayuru, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The dance performance at the 10th Century Lamayuru Monastery (Lamayuru Gompa) is one of the most impressive festivals. Dancers with colorful masks perform the mystic mask dances (Chams) and sacred plays. Chams are essentially a part of Tantric tradition, performed only in the gompas that follow the Tantric Vajrayana teachings and where the monks perform tantric worship.

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#9185360

12 November 2022

Elderly Ladakhi woman spins a hand-held prayer wheel while watching Buddhist monks perform ancient sacred dances during the Lamayuru Masked Dance Festival in Lamayuru, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The dance performance at the 10th Century Lamayuru Monastery (Lamayuru Gompa) is one of the most impressive festivals. Dancers with colorful masks perform the mystic mask dances (Chams) and sacred plays. Chams are essentially a part of Tantric tradition, performed only in the gompas that follow the Tantric Vajrayana teachings and where the monks perform tantric worship.

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#9124640

2 November 2022

Elderly Ladakhi woman spins a hand-held prayer wheel while watching Buddhist monks perform ancient sacred dances during the Lamayuru Masked Dance Festival in Lamayuru, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The dance performance at the 10th Century Lamayuru Monastery (Lamayuru Gompa) is one of the most impressive festivals. Dancers with colorful masks perform the mystic mask dances (Chams) and sacred plays. Chams are essentially a part of Tantric tradition, performed only in the gompas that follow the Tantric Vajrayana teachings and where the monks perform tantric worship.

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#8576794

23 July 2022

Religious relief carvings fill a large crack in the wall of an ancient temple at Durbar Square in Patan, Nepal, on December 07, 2011.

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#8576790

23 July 2022

Religious fresco depicting Lord Rama worshiping Lord Shiva painted on a temple wall at Pashupatinath in Nepal, on December 05, 2011. The complex at Pashupatinath is the holiest Hindu site in Nepal.

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#8576796

23 July 2022

Religions painting above the doorway of a home in the ancient medieval city of Bhaktapur in Nepal, on December 08, 2011. The painting depicts a female deity feeding fruit to serpents. This painting is believed to protect the family living in the home from evil spirits.

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#7464968

1 December 2021

Ancient carved stones with the images of Buddhist deities at a religious shrine among the ruins of Rabdentse Palace in Rabdentse Sikkim, India on June 02 2010. Towards the reign of Tenzing Namgyal, the frequent Gorkha attack from the western boarder finally caused the capital to be shifted. Rabdentse was acknowledged to be the second capital of Sikkim. With passing time, Rabdentse was desolated and ravages of time and the royal capital turned into ruins. The site has been recently very fully excavated and restored by the Archaeological survey of India.

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#7464994

1 December 2021

Ancient carved stones with the images of Buddhist deities at a religious shrine among the ruins of Rabdentse Palace in Rabdentse Sikkim, India on June 02, 2010. Towards the reign of Tenzing Namgyal, the frequent Gorkha attack from the western boarder finally caused the capital to be shifted. Rabdentse was acknowledged to be the second capital of Sikkim. With passing time, Rabdentse was desolated and ravages of time and the royal capital turned into ruins. The site has been recently very fully excavated and restored by the Archaeological survey of India.

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#7464998

1 December 2021

Ancient carved stones with the images of Buddhist deities at a religious shrine among the ruins of Rabdentse Palace in Rabdentse Sikkim, India on June 02 2010. Towards the reign of Tenzing Namgyal, the frequent Gorkha attack from the western boarder finally caused the capital to be shifted. Rabdentse was acknowledged to be the second capital of Sikkim. With passing time, Rabdentse was desolated and ravages of time and the royal capital turned into ruins. The site has been recently very fully excavated and restored by the Archaeological survey of India.

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#7465000

1 December 2021

Ancient carved stones with the images of Buddhist deities at a religious shrine among the ruins of Rabdentse Palace in Rabdentse Sikkim, India on June 02 2010. Towards the reign of Tenzing Namgyal, the frequent Gorkha attack from the western boarder finally caused the capital to be shifted. Rabdentse was acknowledged to be the second capital of Sikkim. With passing time, Rabdentse was desolated and ravages of time and the royal capital turned into ruins. The site has been recently very fully excavated and restored by the Archaeological survey of India. From the top of the monument, you can witness the picturesque sight that scans across the subterranean valley to the baffling heights of Kanchendzonga.

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#7464962

1 December 2021

The Three Chortens are where the Royal family of Sikkim used to offer prayers to their deities at Rabdentse Palace in Rabdentse Sikkim, India on June 02 2010. Towards the reign of Tenzing Namgyal, the frequent Gorkha attack from the western boarder finally caused the capital to be shifted. Rabdentse was acknowledged to be the second capital of Sikkim. With passing time, Rabdentse was desolated and ravages of time and the royal capital turned into ruins. The site has been recently very fully excavated and restored by the Archaeological survey of India. From the top of the monument, you can witness the picturesque sight that scans across the subterranean valley to the baffling heights of Kanchendzonga.

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#7324234

3 November 2021

Elaborate carving of the Hindu Goddess Durga in the form of Mahishasurmardhini (the slayer of Mahishasur) adorns the gate of the Chandshwari Temple in Banepa, Nepal, on December 11, 2011. Here Durga is slaying the half water buffalo demon-king Mahishasur. According to legend it was Mahishasur who was terrorizing Heaven and Earth and after ten days of fighting, Durga and her army defeated Mahishasur and killed him.

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#7182912

6 October 2021

Small brass idol of Lord Ganesha at a small temple in the Thamel District in Kathmandu, Nepal, on December 06, 2011.

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