"village deity"

#13024900

25 November 2025

Artists walk before performing the 'Gomira', a masked dance honoring the village deity, in front of the historic Victoria Memorial monument, built during British colonial rule, as part of World Heritage Week 2025 celebrations in Kolkata, India, on November 25, 2025.

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#13024902

25 November 2025

Artists walk before performing the 'Gomira', a masked dance honoring the village deity, in front of the historic Victoria Memorial monument, built during British colonial rule, as part of World Heritage Week 2025 celebrations in Kolkata, India, on November 25, 2025.

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#13024904

25 November 2025

Artists walk before performing the 'Gomira', a masked dance honoring the village deity, in front of the historic Victoria Memorial monument, built during British colonial rule, as part of World Heritage Week 2025 celebrations in Kolkata, India, on November 25, 2025.

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#13024906

25 November 2025

Artists walk before performing the 'Gomira', a masked dance honoring the village deity, in front of the historic Victoria Memorial monument, built during British colonial rule, as part of World Heritage Week 2025 celebrations in Kolkata, India, on November 25, 2025.

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#13024907

25 November 2025

Artists walk before performing the 'Gomira', a masked dance honoring the village deity, in front of the historic Victoria Memorial monument, built during British colonial rule, as part of World Heritage Week 2025 celebrations in Kolkata, India, on November 25, 2025.

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#13024915

25 November 2025

An artist poses for a picture before performing the 'Gomira', a masked dance honoring the village deity, in front of the historic Victoria Memorial monument, built during British colonial rule, as part of World Heritage Week 2025 celebrations in Kolkata, India, on November 25, 2025.

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#13024917

25 November 2025

Artists wait to perform the 'Gomira', a masked dance honoring the village deity, in front of the historic Victoria Memorial monument, built during British colonial rule, as part of World Heritage Week 2025 celebrations in Kolkata, India, on November 25, 2025.

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#13024925

25 November 2025

An artist prepares before performing the 'Gomira', a masked dance honoring the village deity, in front of the historic Victoria Memorial monument, built during British colonial rule, as part of World Heritage Week 2025 celebrations in Kolkata, India, on November 25, 2025.

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#13024930

25 November 2025

Artists wait to perform the 'Gomira', a masked dance honoring the village deity, in front of the historic Victoria Memorial monument, built during British colonial rule, as part of World Heritage Week 2025 celebrations in Kolkata, India, on November 25, 2025.

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#13024940

25 November 2025

Artists wait before performing the 'Gomira', a masked dance honoring the village deity, in front of the historic Victoria Memorial monument, built during British colonial rule, as part of World Heritage Week 2025 celebrations in Kolkata, India, on November 25, 2025.

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#13024958

25 November 2025

Artists perform the 'Gomira', a masked dance honoring the village deity, in front of the historic Victoria Memorial monument, built during British colonial rule, as part of World Heritage Week 2025 celebrations in Kolkata, India, on November 25, 2025.

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#13024961

25 November 2025

Artists perform the 'Gomira', a masked dance honoring the village deity, in front of the historic Victoria Memorial monument in Kolkata, India, on November 25, 2025, as part of World Heritage Week 2025 celebrations.

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#13024967

25 November 2025

Artists pose for a photograph before performing the 'Gomira', a masked dance honoring the village deity, in front of the historic Victoria Memorial monument in Kolkata, India, on November 25, 2025, as part of World Heritage Week 2025 celebrations.

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#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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