Devotees offer prayers by submerging themselves in the Hanumante River during the Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal. PHOTO: REUTERS
Hindu devotees take part in the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Panauti near Kathmandu, Nepal. During the month long festival, devotees recite one chapter of a Hindu tale daily from the 31-chapter sacred Swasthani Brata Katha book that is dedicated to God Madhavnarayan and Goddess Swasthani, alongside various other gods and goddess and their miraculous feats.
The devotees go on pilgrimages to various temples, perform religious rituals, take a holy bath in the rivers and fast for a month, especially among women who believe fasting helps in their family's well-being or in getting them a good husband.
Here we look at 16 captivating pictures from Nepal's Swasthani Brata Katha Festival.
A devotee offers prayers in the early morning during the Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Kathmandu. PHOTO: REUTERS
The hand of a devotee is silhouetted as she sits beside a fire to keep warm before taking a holy bath in Saali River on the first day of the festival at Sankhu in Kathmandu January 5, 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS
A Hindu holy man, or Sadhu, sits near the fire to keep himself warm on the first day of the Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Kathmandu January 5, 2015. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar
Devotees offer prayers as they stand on the bank of the Hanumante River during the final day of the month-long Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal. PHOTO: REUTERS
Devotees offer prayers by rolling on the street during the Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal. PHOTO: REUTERS
Devotees offer prayers before taking a holy bath in the Bagmati River at Pashupatinath Temple during the Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Kathmandu, Nepal. PHOTO: REUTERS
Devotees sit along the banks of Bagmati River at Pashupatinath Temple during the Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Kathmandu, Nepal. PHOTO: REUTERS
The feet of devotees are pictured as they stand on the banks of the Bagmati River during the Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Kathmandu, Nepal. PHOTO: REUTERS
A devotee blows a conch as he offers prayer by submerging in the Hanumante River during the Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal. PHOTO: REUTERS
The feet of devotees are pictured as they stand on the bank of the Hanumante River during the Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal. PHOTO: REUTERS
Devotees offer prayers as they stand on the bank of the Hanumante River during the Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal. PHOTO: REUTERS
Devotees take a holy bath in the Bagmati River at Pashupatinath Temple during the Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Kathmandu, Nepal. PHOTO: REUTERS
A devotee offers prayers by rolling on the ground during the Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Sankhu, Kathmandu, Nepal. PHOTO: REUTERS
A devotee holds offerings while performing rituals during the Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Sankhu, Kathmandu, Nepal. PHOTO: REUTERS
Devotees offer prayers by taking a bath in the Hanumante River, on the final day of the month-long Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal. PHOTO: REUTERS
The feet of devotees are pictured as they stand on the bank of the Hanumante River during a month-long Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal. PHOTO: REUTERS
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