"symbolic idol"

#12821243

2 October 2025

A clay idol of Lord Ganesha is carried to the river as Hindu devotees immerse a clay idol of Goddess Durga in the Buriganga River on the final day of the Durga Puja festival in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on October 2, 2025. The immersion marks the conclusion of the five-day celebration, symbolizing the goddess's departure to her heavenly abode.

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#12805356

28 September 2025

A Hindu married woman puts on a gold nose ring as part of rituals before she offers prayer to an idol of the Hindu goddess Durga on the first day of the Durga Puja festival inside a 186-year-old heritage site, which is on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021, during the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata, India, on September 28, 2025. The annual Durga Puja festival, which starts on September 28 and ends on October 2, is one of the most popular festivals for Hindus. In Hindu mythology, the Hindu goddess Durga symbolizes power and the triumph of good over evil.

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#12805362

28 September 2025

A Hindu married woman puts on a gold nose ring as part of rituals before she offers prayer to an idol of the Hindu goddess Durga on the first day of the Durga Puja festival inside a 186-year-old heritage site, which is on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021, during the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata, India, on September 28, 2025. The annual Durga Puja festival, which starts on September 28 and ends on October 2, is one of the most popular festivals for Hindus. In Hindu mythology, the Hindu goddess Durga symbolizes power and the triumph of good over evil.

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#12698183

31 August 2025

A Nepali Hindu woman carries the symbolic idol of Goddess Parvati during a procession in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 31, 2025, to celebrate the late summer festival of ''Gaura,'' singing songs of faith and struggle. The festival, observed for five days and led primarily by women, has roots in ancient scriptures and centers on the worship of Goddess Gaura, also known as Hindu goddess Parvati, and her union with Lord Shiva. The word Gaura refers to Gauri, another name for Goddess Parvati, and there are more than one thousand eight hundred names of her in total. Gaura Parva commemorates Parvati's penance to win Shiva as her husband. It marks the divine marriage between the two deities, an event mentioned in the Himavat Khanda, a segment of the Skanda Purana in Hinduism and several other Puranas. In these accounts, Parvati, the daughter of the Himalaya, worships Shiva through strict fasting. Her devotion eventually results in their union, which devotees continue to celebrate every year. The Manas Khanda section of the Skanda Purana places Gaura's origins in the Himalayan region, specifically among communities in Kumaon, Uttarakhand, India. The festival is most prominently celebrated in Nepal across the far-western districts of Doti, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Darchula, Bajhang, Achham, and Bajura. It falls in August or September, depending on the lunar calendar.

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#12698186

31 August 2025

A Nepali Hindu woman carries the symbolic idol of Goddess Parvati during a procession in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 31, 2025, to celebrate the late summer festival of ''Gaura,'' singing songs of faith and struggle. The festival, observed for five days and led primarily by women, has roots in ancient scriptures and centers on the worship of Goddess Gaura, also known as Hindu goddess Parvati, and her union with Lord Shiva. The word Gaura refers to Gauri, another name for Goddess Parvati, and there are more than one thousand eight hundred names of her in total. Gaura Parva commemorates Parvati's penance to win Shiva as her husband. It marks the divine marriage between the two deities, an event mentioned in the Himavat Khanda, a segment of the Skanda Purana in Hinduism and several other Puranas. In these accounts, Parvati, the daughter of the Himalaya, worships Shiva through strict fasting. Her devotion eventually results in their union, which devotees continue to celebrate every year. The Manas Khanda section of the Skanda Purana places Gaura's origins in the Himalayan region, specifically among communities in Kumaon, Uttarakhand, India. The festival is most prominently celebrated in Nepal across the far-western districts of Doti, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Darchula, Bajhang, Achham, and Bajura. It falls in August or September, depending on the lunar calendar.

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#12140493

9 March 2025

During the Holi festival in Kolkata, India, on March 9, 2025, a vintage Rolls Royce adorned with flowers carries the idols of Radha and Krishna as part of the Rolls Royce Holi celebration. This classic car is traditionally used as the chariot for Radha and Krishna during this festive occasion for many years.

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#11656119

11 October 2024

A Hindu priest holds a lamp while praying in front of an idol of Durga during a ritual known as Aarti inside a ''pandal'' or temporary platform during the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata, India, on October 11, 2024. The annual Durga Puja festival is one of the most popular festivals for Hindus. In Hindu mythology, the Hindu goddess Durga symbolizes power and the triumph of good over evil.

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#11653477

10 October 2024

Devotees dance with a banana tree trunk during a ritual Nabapatrika as part of the Durga Puja festival in the early morning in Kolkata, India, on October 10, 2024.

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#11651868

9 October 2024

A Hindu married woman gestures after putting on a gold nose ring as part of rituals before she offers prayer to an idol of the Hindu goddess Durga inside a 185-year-old heritage site, which is on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021, during the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata, India, on October 9, 2024. The annual Durga Puja festival, which starts on October 9 and ends on October 13, is one of the most popular festivals for Hindus. In Hindu mythology, the Hindu goddess Durga symbolizes power and the triumph of good over evil

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#11651871

9 October 2024

A Hindu married woman gestures after putting on a gold nose ring as part of rituals before she offers prayer to an idol of the Hindu goddess Durga inside a 185-year-old heritage site, which is on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021, during the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata, India, on October 9, 2024. The annual Durga Puja festival, which starts on October 9 and ends on October 13, is one of the most popular festivals for Hindus. In Hindu mythology, the Hindu goddess Durga symbolizes power and the triumph of good over evil

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#11651880

9 October 2024

Children take a selfie after a Hindu married woman gestures by putting on a gold nose ring as part of rituals before she offers prayer to an idol of the Hindu goddess Durga inside a 185-year-old heritage site, which is on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021, during the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata, India, on October 9, 2024. The annual Durga Puja festival, which starts on October 9 and ends on October 13, is one of the most popular festivals for Hindus. In Hindu mythology, the Hindu goddess Durga symbolizes power and the triumph of good over evil

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#11646444

7 October 2024

A Hindu senior citizen woman from an old age home adorns an idol of the Hindu goddess Durga inside a tram compartment converted to a ''pandal'' or temporary platform ahead of the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata, India, on October 7, 2024. The annual Durga Puja festival, which starts on October 9 and ends on October 13, is one of the most popular festivals for Hindus. In Hindu mythology, the Hindu goddess Durga symbolizes power and the triumph of good over evil.

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#11636039

4 October 2024

A dancer performs the ''Durgotsab'' dance dressed as goddess Durga ahead of the Durga Puja festival inside the historic Victoria Memorial monument, built during British colonial rule, in front of a wooden Durga idol, in Kolkata, India, on October 4, 2024. The annual Durga Puja festival, which starts on October 9 and ends on October 13, is one of the most popular festivals for Hindus. In Hindu mythology, the Hindu goddess Durga symbolizes power and the triumph of good over evil.

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#11636041

4 October 2024

A dancer performs the ''Durgotsab'' dance dressed as goddess Durga ahead of the Durga Puja festival inside the historic Victoria Memorial monument, built during British colonial rule, in front of a wooden Durga idol, in Kolkata, India, on October 4, 2024. The annual Durga Puja festival, which starts on October 9 and ends on October 13, is one of the most popular festivals for Hindus. In Hindu mythology, the Hindu goddess Durga symbolizes power and the triumph of good over evil.

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#11636043

4 October 2024

A dancer performs the ''Durgotsab'' dance dressed as goddess Durga ahead of the Durga Puja festival inside the historic Victoria Memorial monument, built during British colonial rule, in front of a wooden Durga idol, in Kolkata, India, on October 4, 2024. The annual Durga Puja festival, which starts on October 9 and ends on October 13, is one of the most popular festivals for Hindus. In Hindu mythology, the Hindu goddess Durga symbolizes power and the triumph of good over evil.

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#11636044

4 October 2024

A dancer performs the ''Durgotsab'' dance dressed as goddess Durga ahead of the Durga Puja festival inside the historic Victoria Memorial monument, built during British colonial rule, in front of a wooden Durga idol, in Kolkata, India, on October 4, 2024. The annual Durga Puja festival, which starts on October 9 and ends on October 13, is one of the most popular festivals for Hindus. In Hindu mythology, the Hindu goddess Durga symbolizes power and the triumph of good over evil.

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