"one month observance"

#13001805

18 November 2025

Nepali Hindu devotees flock to the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, on November 18, 2025, on the eve of the Bala Chaturdashi festival, a festival observed for the salvation of departed souls. The devotees camp to stay awake throughout the night, taking care of the lamps on the eve of Bala Chaturdashi, performing this ritual for the salvation of the souls of deceased ones. The festival of Bala Chaturdashi starts from Marga Krishna Trayodashi, the 13th day of the waning moon in the month of Mangsir (8th month according to the Nepali calendar). Devotees who observe this ritual maintain strict fasting, with only one meal that day, and abstain from garlic, onions, fish, eggs, and other food items that are said to be impure. In the evening, they reach the Pashupatinath temple or shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and chant hymns and prayers to Lord Shiva all night long. They light ''Akhanda Jyoti'' in the name of the deceased souls of their families. The next morning, Marga Krishna Chaturdashi, they take a holy bath and start their journey around the Pashupatinath temple premises, spreading seven kinds of grains along the way.

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#13001824

18 November 2025

Nepali Hindu devotees flock to the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, on November 18, 2025, on the eve of the Bala Chaturdashi festival, a festival observed for the salvation of departed souls. The devotees camp to stay awake throughout the night, taking care of the lamps on the eve of Bala Chaturdashi, performing this ritual for the salvation of the souls of deceased ones. The festival of Bala Chaturdashi starts from Marga Krishna Trayodashi, the 13th day of the waning moon in the month of Mangsir (8th month according to the Nepali calendar). Devotees who observe this ritual maintain strict fasting, with only one meal that day, and abstain from garlic, onions, fish, eggs, and other food items that are said to be impure. In the evening, they reach the Pashupatinath temple or shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and chant hymns and prayers to Lord Shiva all night long. They light ''Akhanda Jyoti'' in the name of the deceased souls of their families. The next morning, Marga Krishna Chaturdashi, they take a holy bath and start their journey around the Pashupatinath temple premises, spreading seven kinds of grains along the way.

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#12937389

2 November 2025

A view of a skull inside a chapel in the Sierra Madre Sur of Mexico, where dozens of people gather for a Day of the Dead procession. They place a candle on top of the skull and visit homes with altars dedicated to those who have died in recent months in Mexico, on November 1, 2025.

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#12937383

2 November 2025

A view inside a chapel in the Sierra Madre Sur mountains of Mexico, where dozens of people gather for a Day of the Dead procession carrying a skull. A candle is placed on top of the skull, and the procession visits homes with altars dedicated to those who have died in recent months in Mexico, on November 1, 2025.

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#12723005

6 September 2025

Thousands of Chinese Indonesians celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival, also known as Zhong Yuan Jie, at Gunung Timur Temple in Medan, on September 6, 2025. The annual festival, observed on the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, is held to honor the spirits of deceased ancestors.

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#12723010

6 September 2025

Thousands of Chinese Indonesians celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival, also known as Zhong Yuan Jie, at Gunung Timur Temple in Medan, on September 6, 2025. The annual festival, observed on the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, is held to honor the spirits of deceased ancestors.

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#12684412

28 August 2025

A Kashmiri Muslim woman prays during the annual congregational prayers called ''Khoja Digar'' on the 3rd of Rabi-ul-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar, outside the shrine of Sufi Saint Khawaja Naqashband Sahib in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on August 28, 2025.

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#12195080

25 March 2025

Worshippers gather at a mosque in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on the evening of March 24, 2025, to observe Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power), one of the holiest nights in the Islamic calendar, during the final ten days of the holy month of Ramadan.

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#12195081

25 March 2025

Worshippers gather at a mosque in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on the evening of March 24, 2025, to observe Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power), one of the holiest nights in the Islamic calendar, during the final ten days of the holy month of Ramadan.

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#12195082

25 March 2025

Worshippers gather at a mosque in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on the evening of March 24, 2025, to observe Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power), one of the holiest nights in the Islamic calendar, during the final ten days of the holy month of Ramadan.

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#12195083

25 March 2025

Worshippers gather at a mosque in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on the evening of March 24, 2025, to observe Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power), one of the holiest nights in the Islamic calendar, during the final ten days of the holy month of Ramadan.

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#12195084

25 March 2025

Worshippers gather at a mosque in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on the evening of March 24, 2025, to observe Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power), one of the holiest nights in the Islamic calendar, during the final ten days of the holy month of Ramadan.

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#12195085

25 March 2025

Worshippers gather at a mosque in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on the evening of March 24, 2025, to observe Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power), one of the holiest nights in the Islamic calendar, during the final ten days of the holy month of Ramadan.

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#12195086

25 March 2025

Worshippers gather at a mosque in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on the evening of March 24, 2025, to observe Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power), one of the holiest nights in the Islamic calendar, during the final ten days of the holy month of Ramadan.

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#12195087

25 March 2025

Worshippers gather at a mosque in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on the evening of March 24, 2025, to observe Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power), one of the holiest nights in the Islamic calendar, during the final ten days of the holy month of Ramadan.

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#12195088

25 March 2025

Worshippers gather at a mosque in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on the evening of March 24, 2025, to observe Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power), one of the holiest nights in the Islamic calendar, during the final ten days of the holy month of Ramadan.

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