Hundreds of Nepalese celebrated the annual Hindu festival of the full moon on Friday by bathing under holy water spouts on the outskirts of Kathmandu in a ritual believed to bring blessings for good health.
The devotees believe they will be protected from disease after the holy bath during the festival of Balaju Purnima, Efe news reported.
People showered at the 22 holy water spouts in the Balaju Water Garden, after which they will travel for around four hours to Nagarjun Hill to meditate.
The spouts are decorated with colourful images of makara, or mythical sea-creatures considered to be the guardians of gateways in Hindu culture.
Nepalese festivals follow the lunar calendar and occur nearly every week in the country, binding together the country's 100-plus diverse ethnic groups through shared celebrations stemming from shared recognition of Buddhist and Hindu deities.
--IANS
py/bg
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app