"commencement ceremony"

#12801678

27 September 2025

Deities in human form are escorted up the hill to the Shikali temple premises for the commencement of the ceremony in Khokana, Nepal, 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 five 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 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 the town from misfortunes and prevents calamities. It is also 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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#12801681

27 September 2025

Deities in human form are escorted up the hill to the Shikali temple premises for the commencement of the ceremony in Khokana, Nepal, 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 five 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 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 the town from misfortunes and prevents calamities. It is also 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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#12801682

27 September 2025

Deities in human form are escorted up the hill to the Shikali temple premises for the commencement of the ceremony in Khokana, Nepal, 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 five 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 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 the town from misfortunes and prevents calamities. It is also 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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#12740234

11 September 2025

Mirja Boes speaks on the stage during the opening ceremony at Confex in Cologne, Germany, on September 10, 2025.

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#12740236

11 September 2025

Mirja Boes speaks on the stage during the opening ceremony at Confex in Cologne, Germany, on September 10, 2025.

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#12740237

11 September 2025

Mirja Boes speaks on the stage during the opening ceremony at Confex in Cologne, Germany, on September 10, 2025.

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#12740238

11 September 2025

Mirja Boes speaks on the stage during the opening ceremony at Confex in Cologne, Germany, on September 10, 2025.

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#12699318

31 August 2025

The Yonshi (ceremonial pole/Indra Dhwaj) is seen at Hanumandhoka Durbar Square as Nepalese devotees and members of the Nepal Army bring it on Sunday as part of preparations for the eight-day-long Indra Jatra festival honoring Indra, the King of Heaven and Lord of Rains in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 31, 2025. The Yonshi is ceremonially cut from the forest in Bhaktapur and temporarily placed at Bhotahiti before being escorted through the streets of Kathmandu to Hanumandhoka. Devotees guide the Yonshi along the traditional route, with some bowing in reverence as it passes. It is formally raised on Bhadra 19 as per the Nepali calendar at 10:31 AM, after which the festival officially commences, reflecting centuries-old Newar cultural and religious traditions.

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#12699319

31 August 2025

The Yonshi (ceremonial pole/Indra Dhwaj) is seen at Hanumandhoka Durbar Square as Nepalese devotees and members of the Nepal Army bring it on Sunday as part of preparations for the eight-day-long Indra Jatra festival honoring Indra, the King of Heaven and Lord of Rains in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 31, 2025. The Yonshi is ceremonially cut from the forest in Bhaktapur and temporarily placed at Bhotahiti before being escorted through the streets of Kathmandu to Hanumandhoka. Devotees guide the Yonshi along the traditional route, with some bowing in reverence as it passes. It is formally raised on Bhadra 19 as per the Nepali calendar at 10:31 AM, after which the festival officially commences, reflecting centuries-old Newar cultural and religious traditions.

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#12553692

14 July 2025

Students participate in a ceremony on the first day of school in Jatigede Subdistrict, Sumedang Regency, West Java, Indonesia, on July 14, 2025.

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#12553693

14 July 2025

Students participate in a ceremony on the first day of school in Jatigede Subdistrict, Sumedang Regency, West Java, Indonesia, on July 14, 2025.

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#12546157

11 July 2025

Thais offer flowers to Buddhist monks during a floral merit-making ceremony, known as ''Tak Bat Dok Mai,'' at Wat Ratchabophit temple in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 11, 2025. The most known floral merit-making ceremony is held every year to mark the commencement of the Buddhist Lent Day or Khao Pansa.

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#12546158

11 July 2025

Thais offer flowers to Buddhist monks during a floral merit-making ceremony, known as ''Tak Bat Dok Mai,'' at Wat Ratchabophit temple in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 11, 2025. The most known floral merit-making ceremony is held every year to mark the commencement of the Buddhist Lent Day or Khao Pansa.

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#12546159

11 July 2025

Thais offer flowers to Buddhist monks during a floral merit-making ceremony, known as ''Tak Bat Dok Mai,'' at Wat Ratchabophit temple in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 11, 2025. The most known floral merit-making ceremony is held every year to mark the commencement of the Buddhist Lent Day or Khao Pansa.

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#12546160

11 July 2025

Thais offer flowers to Buddhist monks during a floral merit-making ceremony, known as ''Tak Bat Dok Mai,'' at Wat Ratchabophit temple in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 11, 2025. The most known floral merit-making ceremony is held every year to mark the commencement of the Buddhist Lent Day or Khao Pansa.

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#12546164

11 July 2025

A Thai Buddhist devotee participates in a floral merit-making ceremony, ''Tak Bat Dok Mai,'' at Wat Ratchabophit temple in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 11, 2025. The most well-known floral merit-making ceremony takes place every year to mark the commencement of the Buddhist Lent Day or Khao Pansa.

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