Devotees offer prayers by submerging themselves in the Hanumante River during the Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal. PHOTO: REUTERS
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
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ