Holy baths and folk tales

Holy baths and folk tales

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A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, sits near a fire to keep warm on the first day of the Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Kathmandu.

The month-long celebrations begin with the full moon in January, and each day devotees donning traditional attire recite a chapter of a Hindu tale dedicated to the gods.

Devotees sprinkle rice grains mixed with vermilion powder and flour while offering prayers along the bank of River Saali.

. Kathmandu, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

The devotees offer their prayers before taking a holy bath in the cold, wintry waters. They embark on pilgrimages to sacred temples, perform religious rituals and fast for a month, particularly women, who believe fasting will protect the well being of their family.

A devotee offers prayers while taking a holy bath in the River Saali.

. Kathmandu, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

Thousands take part in the celebrations and avoid wearing shoes or leather goods over 31 days. Many devotees walk barefoot for miles to reach the sacred sites where they offer their prayers.

A devotee performs religious ritual along the bank of River Saali.

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Slideshow

Devotees stand on the bank of River Saali in Sankhu during the first day of the festival.
. Kathmandu, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

Devotees stand on the bank of River Saali in Sankhu during the first day of the festival.

A woman crosses the Triveni River in the early morning as she arrives to offer her prayers.
. Panauti, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

A woman crosses the Triveni River in the early morning as she arrives to offer her prayers.

Devotees dip their heads in the water as they take a holy bath.
. Kathmandu, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

Devotees dip their heads in the water as they take a holy bath.

A devotee loses her balance as she crosses the river.
. Panauti, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

A devotee loses her balance as she crosses the river.

A woman dries her hair.
. Kathmandu, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

A woman dries her hair.

A man smiles as he gets ready to perform religious rituals.
. Kathmandu, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

A man smiles as he gets ready to perform religious rituals.

A devotee holds a vessel filled with holy water.
. Panauti, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

A devotee holds a vessel filled with holy water.

A woman waits to perform rituals in the woods of Changu Narayan.
. Bhaktapur, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

A woman waits to perform rituals in the woods of Changu Narayan.

Women stand in the sun before performing religious rites.
. Bhaktapur, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

Women stand in the sun before performing religious rites.

People watch devotees performing rituals.
. Bhaktapur, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

People watch devotees performing rituals.

A holy man touches the Swasthani Brata Katha as he recites verses from the book.
. Kathmandu, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

A holy man touches the Swasthani Brata Katha as he recites verses from the book.

A man offers prayers in the early morning.
. Kathmandu, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

A man offers prayers in the early morning.

A devotee stands near the fire to keep warm.
. Panauti, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

A devotee stands near the fire to keep warm.

Devotees offer prayers by rolling on the street during the final day of the festival.
. Bhaktapur, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

Devotees offer prayers by rolling on the street during the final day of the festival.

Devotees offer prayers as they stand on the bank of the Hanumante River.
. Bhaktapur, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

Devotees offer prayers as they stand on the bank of the Hanumante River.

Devotees pray on the last day of the festival.
. Bhaktapur, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

Devotees pray on the last day of the festival.