"writing blessings"

#12598014

29 July 2025

Nepali Hindu devotees stand in a queue waiting for their turn to worship and make offerings to the serpent deity on the day of Naag Panchami at Naag Pokhari in Kathmandu, Nepal, on July 29, 2025. The fifth day of the bright half-moon of the Shrawan month, as per the lunar calendar, is regarded as Naag Panchami, a day dedicated to serpent deities. People flock to nearby ponds and Naag temples to worship the serpentine deity, marking the start of the festive season in the Himalayan nation. The festival of Naag Panchami is also regarded as a festival to strengthen the bond between humans and nature. On this particular day, farmers do not dig or plough the field; instead, they worship the deity by making idols from the mud of their fields. The serpentine deity is also regarded as the god of water and rain, and according to religious belief, the house where the Naag deity resides is bestowed with wealth and prosperity. According to belief, the age-old tradition of observing the festival started when a farmer in ancient times ploughed the field on the day of Naag Panchami and a family of serpents was killed. The serpent then promised not to spare any of the family members of that farmer after his entire family was killed. The farmer had only a daughter who was also married off; the serpent then went to the girl's house to take revenge and saw the daughter worshipping the serpent deity. The snake, who lost its family, returned, blessing the girl.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12598015

29 July 2025

Nepali Hindu devotees stand in a queue waiting for their turn to worship and make offerings to the serpent deity on the day of Naag Panchami at Naag Pokhari in Kathmandu, Nepal, on July 29, 2025. The fifth day of the bright half-moon of the Shrawan month, as per the lunar calendar, is regarded as Naag Panchami, a day dedicated to serpent deities. People flock to nearby ponds and Naag temples to worship the serpentine deity, marking the start of the festive season in the Himalayan nation. The festival of Naag Panchami is also regarded as a festival to strengthen the bond between humans and nature. On this particular day, farmers do not dig or plough the field; instead, they worship the deity by making idols from the mud of their fields. The serpentine deity is also regarded as the god of water and rain, and according to religious belief, the house where the Naag deity resides is bestowed with wealth and prosperity. According to belief, the age-old tradition of observing the festival started when a farmer in ancient times ploughed the field on the day of Naag Panchami and a family of serpents was killed. The serpent then promised not to spare any of the family members of that farmer after his entire family was killed. The farmer had only a daughter who was also married off; the serpent then went to the girl's house to take revenge and saw the daughter worshipping the serpent deity. The snake, who lost its family, returned, blessing the girl.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12598025

29 July 2025

Nepali Hindu devotees stand in a queue waiting for their turn to worship and make offerings to the serpent deity on the day of Naag Panchami at Naag Pokhari in Kathmandu, Nepal, on July 29, 2025. The fifth day of the bright half-moon of the Shrawan month, as per the lunar calendar, is regarded as Naag Panchami, a day dedicated to serpent deities. People flock to nearby ponds and Naag temples to worship the serpentine deity, marking the start of the festive season in the Himalayan nation. The festival of Naag Panchami is also regarded as a festival to strengthen the bond between humans and nature. On this particular day, farmers do not dig or plough the field; instead, they worship the deity by making idols from the mud of their fields. The serpentine deity is also regarded as the god of water and rain, and according to religious belief, the house where the Naag deity resides is bestowed with wealth and prosperity. According to belief, the age-old tradition of observing the festival started when a farmer in ancient times ploughed the field on the day of Naag Panchami and a family of serpents was killed. The serpent then promised not to spare any of the family members of that farmer after his entire family was killed. The farmer had only a daughter who was also married off; the serpent then went to the girl's house to take revenge and saw the daughter worshipping the serpent deity. The snake, who lost its family, returned, blessing the girl.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12598026

29 July 2025

Nepali Hindu devotees stand in a queue waiting for their turn to worship and make offerings to the serpent deity on the day of Naag Panchami at Naag Pokhari in Kathmandu, Nepal, on July 29, 2025. The fifth day of the bright half-moon of the Shrawan month, as per the lunar calendar, is regarded as Naag Panchami, a day dedicated to serpent deities. People flock to nearby ponds and Naag temples to worship the serpentine deity, marking the start of the festive season in the Himalayan nation. The festival of Naag Panchami is also regarded as a festival to strengthen the bond between humans and nature. On this particular day, farmers do not dig or plough the field; instead, they worship the deity by making idols from the mud of their fields. The serpentine deity is also regarded as the god of water and rain, and according to religious belief, the house where the Naag deity resides is bestowed with wealth and prosperity. According to belief, the age-old tradition of observing the festival started when a farmer in ancient times ploughed the field on the day of Naag Panchami and a family of serpents was killed. The serpent then promised not to spare any of the family members of that farmer after his entire family was killed. The farmer had only a daughter who was also married off; the serpent then went to the girl's house to take revenge and saw the daughter worshipping the serpent deity. The snake, who lost its family, returned, blessing the girl.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12012599

3 February 2025

People gather to worship around the temple of Saraswati during the Basant Panchami occasion in Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 3, 2025

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12012602

3 February 2025

People write on the wall around the temple during the Basant Panchami occasion in Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 3, 2025

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12012603

3 February 2025

People write on the wall around the temple during the Basant Panchami occasion in Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 3, 2025

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12012606

3 February 2025

People pray with burning earthen lamps during the Basant Panchami occasion in Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 3, 2025

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12012607

3 February 2025

People pray with burning earthen lamps during the Basant Panchami occasion in Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 3, 2025

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12012608

3 February 2025

People pray with burning earthen lamps during the Basant Panchami occasion in Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 3, 2025

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#11969016

21 January 2025

International students write blessings during the warm-up of the Lunar New Year Cultural Temple Fair at Badachu Park in Beijing, China, on January 21, 2025.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#11969017

21 January 2025

International students write blessings during the warm-up of the Lunar New Year Cultural Temple Fair at Badachu Park in Beijing, China, on January 21, 2025.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#11969018

21 January 2025

International students write blessings during the warm-up of the Lunar New Year Cultural Temple Fair at Badachu Park in Beijing, China, on January 21, 2025.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#11953854

17 January 2025

People with their dogs wait for the blessing in front of the Capuchin Church in Molfetta, Italy, on January 17, 2025. Now in its 24th year, the blessing of animals is among the most established traditions of the city of Molfetta. Traditionally, citizens gather at the Church of the Most Holy Crucifix (Church of the Capuchins), bringing with them domestic, barnyard, and stable animals (lambs, calves, horses, and farm animals) to participate in the festive ceremony in honor of the hermit saint. The rite has essentially peasant origins, but economic and social changes alter customs, so today mostly pet animals are led for the blessing.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#11953861

17 January 2025

People with their dogs wait for the blessing in front of the Capuchin Church in Molfetta, Italy, on January 17, 2025. Now in its 24th year, the blessing of animals is among the most established traditions of the city of Molfetta. Traditionally, citizens gather at the Church of the Most Holy Crucifix (Church of the Capuchins), bringing with them domestic, barnyard, and stable animals (lambs, calves, horses, and farm animals) to participate in the festive ceremony in honor of the hermit saint. The rite has essentially peasant origins, but economic and social changes alter customs, so today mostly pet animals are led for the blessing.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#11953862

17 January 2025

People with their dogs wait for the blessing in front of the Capuchin Church in Molfetta, Italy, on January 17, 2025. Now in its 24th year, the blessing of animals is among the most established traditions of the city of Molfetta. Traditionally, citizens gather at the Church of the Most Holy Crucifix (Church of the Capuchins), bringing with them domestic, barnyard, and stable animals (lambs, calves, horses, and farm animals) to participate in the festive ceremony in honor of the hermit saint. The rite has essentially peasant origins, but economic and social changes alter customs, so today mostly pet animals are led for the blessing.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.