"divine return"

#12531633

6 July 2025

Lord Jagannath returns to Shree Jagannath Temple during the Bahuda Yatra festival in Puri, Odisha, after spending eight days at the Gundicha Temple, on July 5, 2025, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Devotees celebrate the divine return with the sound of drums and conch shells, and showers of flowers, marking the end of the annual Rath Yatra procession.

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#11153232

16 April 2024

A Nepali Hindu devotee is arranging the mask of Lord Bhairab on the front edge of the towering chariot of Seto Machhindranath before the formal start of the chariot procession of the ''White God'' in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 16, 2024. The chariot procession, which honors the god of rain and is also known as Jana Baha Dyah Jatra, involves pulling the skyscraping chariot of Seto Machindranath from place to place over the course of three days. Each day, when the chariot reaches its destination, a group of soldiers is firing their rifles into the air. According to myth, during the reign of Yakshya Malla, the King of Kantipur, people would bathe in a holy river and visit Swayambhunath, which was believed to grant the power to send people to heaven after death. When Yamraj, the God of Death, learned about the power of Swayambhunath, he visited the holy temple. Upon his return from the temple, Yama was captured by King Yakshya Malla and his Guru, who possessed powers and demanded immortality. Unable to escape, Yama prayed to Arya Awalokiteshwor (Seto Machhindranath) to free him. The god heard his prayers and immediately appeared from the water, white in color with his eyes half-closed. He instructed the king to build a temple where the Kalmati and Bagmati rivers met and to organize a chariot procession so that the god could visit the people and bless them with contentment and long life. Since then, the three-day-long procession has been celebrated to honor the god.

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#11153233

16 April 2024

Members of the younger generation from the Newa community, the indigenous people of the Kathmandu Valley, are playing traditional musical instruments in front of the chariot of Seto Machhindranath before the official start of the chariot procession in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 16, 2024. The procession, which honors the god of rain and is also known as Jana Baha Dyah Jatra, involves pulling the towering chariot of Seto Machindranath from one place to another over the course of three days. Each day, when the chariot reaches its destination, a group of soldiers is firing their rifles into the air. According to legend, during the reign of Yakshya Malla, the King of Kantipur, people would bathe in a holy river and visit Swayambhunath, which was believed to grant the power to send people to heaven after death. When Yamraj, the God of Death, learned about the power of Swayambhunath, he visited the holy temple. Upon his return, he was captured by King Yakshya Malla and his Guru, who demanded immortality. Unable to escape, Yamraj prayed to Arya Awalokiteshwor (Seto Machhindranath) for freedom. The god, appearing white in color with half-closed eyes, emerged from the water and instructed the king to build a temple at the confluence of the Kalmati and Bagmati rivers and to organize a chariot procession so that he could visit the people and bless them with happiness and longevity. Since then, this three-day-long procession has been celebrated to honor the god.

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#11153239

16 April 2024

Nepali devotees are carrying the idol of Lord Seto Machhindranath, the god of rain and harvest, to complete the ascension of the White God on the scrapping chariot to start the procession in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 16, 2024. The chariot procession, also known as Jana Baha Dyah Jatra, involves a skyscraping chariot of Seto Machindranath being pulled from place to place over the course of three days. Each day, when the chariot reaches its destination, a group of soldiers is firing their rifles into the air. According to myth, during the regime of Yakshya Malla, the King of Kantipur, people would bathe in a holy river and visit Swayambhunath, which was believed to grant the power of sending people to heaven after death. When Yamraj, the God of Death, learned about the power of Swayambhunath, he visited the holy temple. Upon his return from the temple, Yama was captured by King Yakshya Malla and his Guru, who possessed powers and demanded immortality. Unable to escape, Yama prayed to Arya Awalokiteshwor (Seto Machhindranath) to free him. The god heard his prayers and immediately appeared from the water, white in color with his eyes half-closed. He instructed the king to build a temple where the Kalmati and Bagmati rivers met and to organize a chariot procession so that the god could visit the people and bless them with contentment and long life. Since then, people have been celebrating this three-day-long procession to honor the god.

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#11153240

16 April 2024

Nepali devotees are carrying the idol of Lord Seto Machhindranath, the god of rain and harvest, to complete the ascension of the White God on the scrapping chariot to start the procession in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 16, 2024. The chariot procession, also known as Jana Baha Dyah Jatra, involves a skyscraping chariot of Seto Machindranath being pulled from place to place over the course of three days. Each day, when the chariot reaches its destination, a group of soldiers is firing their rifles into the air. According to myth, during the regime of Yakshya Malla, the King of Kantipur, people would bathe in a holy river and visit Swayambhunath, which was believed to grant the power of sending people to heaven after death. When Yamraj, the God of Death, learned about the power of Swayambhunath, he visited the holy temple. Upon his return from the temple, Yama was captured by King Yakshya Malla and his Guru, who possessed powers and demanded immortality. Unable to escape, Yama prayed to Arya Awalokiteshwor (Seto Machhindranath) to free him. The god heard his prayers and immediately appeared from the water, white in color with his eyes half-closed. He instructed the king to build a temple where the Kalmati and Bagmati rivers met and to organize a chariot procession so that the god could visit the people and bless them with contentment and long life. Since then, people have been celebrating this three-day-long procession to honor the god.

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#11153241

16 April 2024

Nepali devotees are carrying the idol of Lord Seto Machhindranath, the god of rain and harvest, to complete the ascension of the White God on the scrapping chariot to start the procession in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 16, 2024. The chariot procession, also known as Jana Baha Dyah Jatra, involves a skyscraping chariot of Seto Machindranath being pulled from place to place over the course of three days. Each day, when the chariot reaches its destination, a group of soldiers is firing their rifles into the air. According to myth, during the regime of Yakshya Malla, the King of Kantipur, people would bathe in a holy river and visit Swayambhunath, which was believed to grant the power of sending people to heaven after death. When Yamraj, the God of Death, learned about the power of Swayambhunath, he visited the holy temple. Upon his return from the temple, Yama was captured by King Yakshya Malla and his Guru, who possessed powers and demanded immortality. Unable to escape, Yama prayed to Arya Awalokiteshwor (Seto Machhindranath) to free him. The god heard his prayers and immediately appeared from the water, white in color with his eyes half-closed. He instructed the king to build a temple where the Kalmati and Bagmati rivers met and to organize a chariot procession so that the god could visit the people and bless them with contentment and long life. Since then, people have been celebrating this three-day-long procession to honor the god.

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#11153243

16 April 2024

Nepali Hindu devotees are opening their arms wide to catch the offerings being distributed from the chariot of Seto Macchindranath in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 16, 2024. The chariot procession, which honors the god of rain, is also known as Jana Baha Dyah Jatra. A towering chariot of Seto Machindranath is being pulled from place to place over the course of these three days. Each day, when the chariot reaches its destination, a group of soldiers is firing their rifles into the air. According to myth, during the reign of Yakshya Malla, the King of Kantipur, people would bathe in a holy river and visit Swayambhunath, which was believed to grant the power to send people to heaven after death. Once Yamraj, the God of Death, learned about the power of Swayambhunath and visited the holy temple. Upon his return from the temple, Yama was captured by King Yakshya Malla and his Guru, who possessed powers and demanded immortality. As the King and his Guru did not let Yama escape, he prayed to Arya Awalokiteshwor (Seto Machhindranath) to free him. The god heard his prayers and immediately appeared from the water, white in color with his eyes half-closed. He instructed the king to build a temple where the Kalmati and Bagmati rivers met and to organize a chariot procession so that the god could visit the people and bless them with contentment and long life. Since then, people have been celebrating this three-day-long procession to honor the god.

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#11153247

16 April 2024

Members of the younger generation from the Newa community, the indigenous people of the Kathmandu Valley, are playing traditional musical instruments in front of the chariot of Seto Machhindranath before the official start of the chariot procession in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 16, 2024. The procession, which honors the god of rain and is also known as Jana Baha Dyah Jatra, involves pulling the towering chariot of Seto Machindranath from one place to another over the course of three days. Each day, when the chariot reaches its destination, a group of soldiers is firing their rifles into the air. According to legend, during the reign of Yakshya Malla, the King of Kantipur, people would bathe in a holy river and visit Swayambhunath, which was believed to grant the power to send people to heaven after death. When Yamraj, the God of Death, learned about the power of Swayambhunath, he visited the holy temple. Upon his return, he was captured by King Yakshya Malla and his Guru, who demanded immortality. Unable to escape, Yamraj prayed to Arya Awalokiteshwor (Seto Machhindranath) for freedom. The god, appearing white in color with half-closed eyes, emerged from the water and instructed the king to build a temple at the confluence of the Kalmati and Bagmati rivers and to organize a chariot procession so that he could visit the people and bless them with happiness and longevity. Since then, this three-day-long procession has been celebrated to honor the god.

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#11027687

26 February 2024

Pilgrims are worshipping a ''sacred stone'' in Nanhe village, Bajiao Township, Enshi city, in Hubei province, Central China, on February 24, 2024. A three-meter-high bluestone is attracting countless people who are bringing sacrificial supplies and setting off firecrackers. Incense has been continuously burning at this site for decades, and the stone is referred to as the ''divine stone'' and ''godfather.'' Locals say the stone has been there for decades, surviving attempts to destroy it with explosives during the construction of a country road. There's a story of a driver who, overcome by fatigue, nearly drove off a cliff but was saved when he saw a red light emanating from the stone, which woke him up in time to brake. The grateful driver now regularly returns to worship the stone, draping it in red cloth and bringing various offerings.

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#11027689

26 February 2024

Pilgrims are worshipping a ''sacred stone'' in Nanhe village, Bajiao Township, Enshi city, in Hubei province, Central China, on February 24, 2024. A three-meter-high bluestone is attracting countless people who are bringing sacrificial supplies and setting off firecrackers. Incense has been continuously burning at this site for decades, and the stone is referred to as the ''divine stone'' and ''godfather.'' Locals say the stone has been there for decades, surviving attempts to destroy it with explosives during the construction of a country road. There's a story of a driver who, overcome by fatigue, nearly drove off a cliff but was saved when he saw a red light emanating from the stone, which woke him up in time to brake. The grateful driver now regularly returns to worship the stone, draping it in red cloth and bringing various offerings.

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#11027692

26 February 2024

Pilgrims are worshipping a ''sacred stone'' in Nanhe village, Bajiao Township, Enshi city, in Hubei province, Central China, on February 24, 2024. A three-meter-high bluestone is attracting countless people who are bringing sacrificial supplies and setting off firecrackers. Incense has been continuously burning at this site for decades, and the stone is referred to as the ''divine stone'' and ''godfather.'' Locals say the stone has been there for decades, surviving attempts to destroy it with explosives during the construction of a country road. There's a story of a driver who, overcome by fatigue, nearly drove off a cliff but was saved when he saw a red light emanating from the stone, which woke him up in time to brake. The grateful driver now regularly returns to worship the stone, draping it in red cloth and bringing various offerings.

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#11027663

26 February 2024

Pilgrims are worshiping a ''sacred stone'' in Nanhe village, Bajiao Township, Enshi city, in Hubei province, Central China, on February 24, 2024. A three-meter-high bluestone is attracting countless people who are bringing sacrificial supplies and setting off firecrackers. Incense has been continuously burning at this site for decades, and the stone is referred to as the ''divine stone'' and ''godfather.'' Locals say the stone has been there for decades, surviving attempts to destroy it with explosives during the construction of a country road. There's a story of a driver who, overcome by fatigue, nearly drove off a cliff but was saved when he saw a red light emanating from the stone, which prompted him to brake in time. Grateful for his life, the driver began to worship the stone, covering it with red cloth and bringing various offerings. Since then, he has regularly returned to pay homage to the stone.

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#11027668

26 February 2024

Pilgrims are worshiping a ''sacred stone'' in Nanhe village, Bajiao Township, Enshi city, in Hubei province, Central China, on February 24, 2024. A three-meter-high bluestone is attracting countless people who are bringing sacrificial supplies and setting off firecrackers. Incense has been continuously burning at this site for decades, and the stone is referred to as the ''divine stone'' and ''godfather.'' Locals say the stone has been there for decades, surviving attempts to destroy it with explosives during the construction of a country road. There's a story of a driver who, overcome by fatigue, nearly drove off a cliff but was saved when he saw a red light emanating from the stone, which prompted him to brake in time. Grateful for his life, the driver began to worship the stone, covering it with red cloth and bringing various offerings. Since then, he has regularly returned to pay homage to the stone.

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#11027672

26 February 2024

Pilgrims are worshiping a ''sacred stone'' in Nanhe village, Bajiao Township, Enshi city, in Hubei province, Central China, on February 24, 2024. A three-meter-high bluestone is attracting countless people who are bringing sacrificial supplies and setting off firecrackers. Incense has been continuously burning at this site for decades, and the stone is referred to as the ''divine stone'' and ''godfather.'' Locals say the stone has been there for decades, surviving attempts to destroy it with explosives during the construction of a country road. There's a story of a driver who, overcome by fatigue, nearly drove off a cliff but was saved when he saw a red light emanating from the stone, which prompted him to brake in time. Grateful for his life, the driver began to worship the stone, covering it with red cloth and bringing various offerings. Since then, he has regularly returned to pay homage to the stone.

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#11027674

26 February 2024

Pilgrims are worshiping a ''sacred stone'' in Nanhe village, Bajiao Township, Enshi city, in Hubei province, Central China, on February 24, 2024. A three-meter-high bluestone is attracting countless people who are bringing sacrificial supplies and setting off firecrackers. Incense has been continuously burning at this site for decades, and the stone is referred to as the ''divine stone'' and ''godfather.'' Locals say the stone has been there for decades, surviving attempts to destroy it with explosives during the construction of a country road. There's a story of a driver who, overcome by fatigue, nearly drove off a cliff but was saved when he saw a red light emanating from the stone, which prompted him to brake in time. Grateful for his life, the driver began to worship the stone, covering it with red cloth and bringing various offerings. Since then, he has regularly returned to pay homage to the stone.

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#11027677

26 February 2024

Pilgrims are worshiping a ''sacred stone'' in Nanhe village, Bajiao Township, Enshi city, in Hubei province, Central China, on February 24, 2024. A three-meter-high bluestone is attracting countless people who are bringing sacrificial supplies and setting off firecrackers. Incense has been continuously burning at this site for decades, and the stone is referred to as the ''divine stone'' and ''godfather.'' Locals say the stone has been there for decades, surviving attempts to destroy it with explosives during the construction of a country road. There's a story of a driver who, overcome by fatigue, nearly drove off a cliff but was saved when he saw a red light emanating from the stone, which prompted him to brake in time. Grateful for his life, the driver began to worship the stone, covering it with red cloth and bringing various offerings. Since then, he has regularly returned to pay homage to the stone.

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