"fasting practices"

#13262592

1 February 2026

A fasting Nepali Hindu devotee performs rituals reflected on a river in Bhaktapur, Nepal, on February 1, 2026, on the last day of the month-long arduous fasting ritual of Madhav Narayan. Devotees who take on this fast for a month do not eat foods cooked by others, which also exclude salt and other spices. They only eat rice, beaten rice, sugar, ghee, sugar candy, molasses, spinach from Patan, and peas among those considered sacred. The annual ritual of Madhav Narayan starts from the full moon day of Poush (Ninth Month of Lunar Calendar), initiating the recitation of the religious sermons.

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#13255809

30 January 2026

A Nepali Hindu devotee undergoing the annual Madhav Narayan fast sprinkles sacred water on the bystanding devotees while taking part in the procession of touring around the town of Thecho in Lalitpur, Nepal, on January 30, 2026. During the procession, which is also a part of the month-long Madhav Narayan festival, devotees tour around the city blowing conches and sprinkling sacred water on the bystanding devotees. The annual Madhav Narayan festival begins from the full moon of Poush, the ninth month in the Nepali calendar. The devotees remain on fast for the entire month and abide by strict disciplinary rules and regulations. The devotees roll on the ground as a part of the ritual.

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#13255810

30 January 2026

A Nepali Hindu devotee undergoing the annual Madhav Narayan fast sprinkles sacred water on the bystanding devotees while taking part in the procession of touring around the town of Thecho in Lalitpur, Nepal, on January 30, 2026. During the procession, which is also a part of the month-long Madhav Narayan festival, devotees tour around the city blowing conches and sprinkling sacred water on the bystanding devotees. The annual Madhav Narayan festival begins from the full moon of Poush, the ninth month in the Nepali calendar. The devotees remain on fast for the entire month and abide by strict disciplinary rules and regulations. The devotees roll on the ground as a part of the ritual.

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#13255812

30 January 2026

A Nepali Hindu devotee undergoing the annual Madhav Narayan fast sprinkles sacred water on the bystanding devotees while taking part in the procession of touring around the town of Thecho in Lalitpur, Nepal, on January 30, 2026. During the procession, which is also a part of the month-long Madhav Narayan festival, devotees tour around the city blowing conches and sprinkling sacred water on the bystanding devotees. The annual Madhav Narayan festival begins from the full moon of Poush, the ninth month in the Nepali calendar. The devotees remain on fast for the entire month and abide by strict disciplinary rules and regulations. The devotees roll on the ground as a part of the ritual.

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#13255818

30 January 2026

Nepali Hindu devotees undergo the annual Madhav Narayan fast and take part in the procession of touring around the town of Thecho in Lalitpur, Nepal, on January 30, 2026. During the procession, which is also part of the month-long Madhav Narayan festival, devotees tour around the city blowing conches and sprinkling sacred water on the bystanding devotees. The annual Madhav Narayan festival begins from the full moon of Poush, the ninth month in the Nepali calendar. The devotees remain on fast for the entire month and abide by strict disciplinary rules and regulations. The devotees roll on the ground as part of the ritual.

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#13255827

30 January 2026

A Nepali Hindu devotee undergoes the annual Madhav Narayan fast and blows the conch while taking part in the procession of touring around the town of Thecho in Lalitpur, Nepal, on January 30, 2026. During the procession, which is also part of the month-long Madhav Narayan festival, devotees tour around the city blowing conches and sprinkling sacred water on the bystanding devotees. The annual Madhav Narayan festival begins from the full moon of Poush, the ninth month in the Nepali calendar. The devotees remain on fast for the entire month and have to abide by strict disciplinary rules and regulations. The devotees roll on the ground as part of the ritual.

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#13255829

30 January 2026

A Nepali Hindu devotee undergoes the annual Madhav Narayan fast and blows the conch while taking part in the procession of touring around the town of Thecho in Lalitpur, Nepal, on January 30, 2026. During the procession, which is also part of the month-long Madhav Narayan festival, devotees tour around the city blowing conches and sprinkling sacred water on the bystanding devotees. The annual Madhav Narayan festival begins from the full moon of Poush, the ninth month in the Nepali calendar. The devotees remain on fast for the entire month and have to abide by strict disciplinary rules and regulations. The devotees roll on the ground as part of the ritual.

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#13255830

30 January 2026

A Nepali Hindu devotee undergoing the annual Madhav Narayan fast, worshipped as Hindu God Shiva, is offered sacred water while taking part in the procession of touring around the town of Thecho in Lalitpur, Nepal, on January 30, 2026. During the procession, which is also a part of the month-long Madhav Narayan festival, devotees tour around the city blowing conches and sprinkling sacred water on the bystanding devotees. The annual Madhav Narayan festival begins from the full moon of Poush, the ninth month in the Nepali calendar. The devotees remain on fast for the entire month and have to abide by strict disciplinary rules and regulations. The devotees roll on the ground as a part of the ritual.

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#13211453

18 January 2026

Nepali Hindu devotees undergo Swosthani Brata Katha rituals and stand on the embankments of the Bagmati River to prepare a ritualistic bath as they begin ''Pardes Yatra'' from Pashupati in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 18, 2026. Fasting devotees observe the month-long Swosthani Brata, undertaking their first Pardes Yatra by walking barefoot for kilometers to major Narayan and Shiva temples, including Bajrayogini, Pashupatinath, Shesha Narayan of Pharping, Panauti, and Changunarayan, while adhering to strict dietary and ritual practices.

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#13211454

18 January 2026

Nepali Hindu devotees undergo Swosthani Brata Katha rituals and stand on the embankments of the Bagmati River to prepare a ritualistic bath as they begin ''Pardes Yatra'' from Pashupati in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 18, 2026. Fasting devotees observe the month-long Swosthani Brata, undertaking their first Pardes Yatra by walking barefoot for kilometers to major Narayan and Shiva temples, including Bajrayogini, Pashupatinath, Shesha Narayan of Pharping, Panauti, and Changunarayan, while adhering to strict dietary and ritual practices.

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#13211455

18 January 2026

Nepali Hindu devotees undergo Swosthani Brata Katha rituals and stand on the embankments of the Bagmati River to prepare a ritualistic bath as they begin ''Pardes Yatra'' from Pashupati in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 18, 2026. Fasting devotees observe the month-long Swosthani Brata, undertaking their first Pardes Yatra by walking barefoot for kilometers to major Narayan and Shiva temples, including Bajrayogini, Pashupatinath, Shesha Narayan of Pharping, Panauti, and Changunarayan, while adhering to strict dietary and ritual practices.

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#13211456

18 January 2026

Nepali Hindu devotees undergo Swosthani Brata Katha rituals and stand on the embankments of the Bagmati River to prepare a ritualistic bath as they begin ''Pardes Yatra'' from Pashupati in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 18, 2026. Fasting devotees observe the month-long Swosthani Brata, undertaking their first Pardes Yatra by walking barefoot for kilometers to major Narayan and Shiva temples, including Bajrayogini, Pashupatinath, Shesha Narayan of Pharping, Panauti, and Changunarayan, while adhering to strict dietary and ritual practices.

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#13211457

18 January 2026

Nepali Hindu devotees undergo Swosthani Brata Katha rituals and stand on the embankments of the Bagmati River to prepare a ritualistic bath as they begin ''Pardes Yatra'' from Pashupati in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 18, 2026. Fasting devotees observe the month-long Swosthani Brata, undertaking their first Pardes Yatra by walking barefoot for kilometers to major Narayan and Shiva temples, including Bajrayogini, Pashupatinath, Shesha Narayan of Pharping, Panauti, and Changunarayan, while adhering to strict dietary and ritual practices.

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#13211458

18 January 2026

Nepali Hindu devotees undergo Swosthani Brata Katha rituals and stand on the embankments of the Bagmati River to prepare a ritualistic bath as they begin ''Pardes Yatra'' from Pashupati in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 18, 2026. Fasting devotees observe the month-long Swosthani Brata, undertaking their first Pardes Yatra by walking barefoot for kilometers to major Narayan and Shiva temples, including Bajrayogini, Pashupatinath, Shesha Narayan of Pharping, Panauti, and Changunarayan, while adhering to strict dietary and ritual practices.

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#13211459

18 January 2026

Nepali Hindu devotees undergo Swosthani Brata Katha rituals and stand on the embankments of the Bagmati River to prepare a ritualistic bath as they begin ''Pardes Yatra'' from Pashupati in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 18, 2026. Fasting devotees observe the month-long Swosthani Brata, undertaking their first Pardes Yatra by walking barefoot for kilometers to major Narayan and Shiva temples, including Bajrayogini, Pashupatinath, Shesha Narayan of Pharping, Panauti, and Changunarayan, while adhering to strict dietary and ritual practices.

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#13211460

18 January 2026

Nepali Hindu devotees undergo Swosthani Brata Katha rituals and stand on the embankments of the Bagmati River to prepare a ritualistic bath as they begin ''Pardes Yatra'' from Pashupati in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 18, 2026. Fasting devotees observe the month-long Swosthani Brata, undertaking their first Pardes Yatra by walking barefoot for kilometers to major Narayan and Shiva temples, including Bajrayogini, Pashupatinath, Shesha Narayan of Pharping, Panauti, and Changunarayan, while adhering to strict dietary and ritual practices.

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