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Hindu pilgrims travel in a tractor to attend the Ghost Festival as the moon rises on the eve of a full moon day at the banks of Kamala River in Dhanusha district, Nepal, 03 November 2017. The Ghost Festival is a centuries-old tradition celebrated every year on the full moon day of November. Thousands of people, mostly from Dhanusha District in eastern Nepal and neighboring India and belonging mainly to the lower caste Dalit community, flock to the holy river with deep-rooted, superstitious beliefs that something is wrong within their families or in their business because of evil spirits. Shamans perform rituals in an attempt to heal those believed to be possessed by evil spirits, claiming that only they can expel the unwanted possession. The festival is considered an extreme example of superstition in Nepal. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)

Hindu pilgrims travel in a tractor to attend the Ghost Festival as the moon rises on the eve of a full moon day at the banks of Kamala River in Dhanusha district, Nepal, 03 November 2017. The Ghost Festival is a centuries-old tradition celebrated every year on the full moon day of November. Thousands of people, mostly from Dhanusha District in eastern Nepal and neighboring India and belonging mainly to the lower caste Dalit community, flock to the holy river with deep-rooted, superstitious beliefs that something is wrong within their families or in their business because of evil spirits. Shamans perform rituals in an attempt to heal those believed to be possessed by evil spirits, claiming that only they can expel the unwanted possession. The festival is considered an extreme example of superstition in Nepal. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)



Marani Devi Chaudhary (C), aged 40, performs a ritual in front of shaman Paltan Yadav (unseen) at her home in Rajaur village in Dhanusha district, Nepal, 02 November 2017. The shaman identified Marani Devi to be possessed by their lineage god who was dissatisfied by their worship is thought by the family to have caused them misfortune and is even feared lead to their death. Therefore Marani Devi spent 1,500 USD to perform a healing ritual at the Ghost Festival held at the banks of Kamala River in Dhanusha district two days later. Every family or community has their own sacred god, called 'Kuldevta' in Nepali which means family deity or lineage god. Only family members or people within communities of the same caste can worship to the deity. They have their own rules and regulations of worship which varies from one family and community to another. Being unable to follow the rules and regulations or carry out worship is believed to cause misfortune. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)

Marani Devi Chaudhary (C), aged 40, performs a ritual in front of shaman Paltan Yadav (unseen) at her home in Rajaur village in Dhanusha district, Nepal, 02 November 2017. The shaman identified Marani Devi to be possessed by their lineage god who was dissatisfied by their worship is thought by the family to have caused them misfortune and is even feared lead to their death. Therefore Marani Devi spent 1,500 USD to perform a healing ritual at the Ghost Festival held at the banks of Kamala River in Dhanusha district two days later. Every family or community has their own sacred god, called 'Kuldevta' in Nepali which means family deity or lineage god. Only family members or people within communities of the same caste can worship to the deity. They have their own rules and regulations of worship which varies from one family and community to another. Being unable to follow the rules and regulations or carry out worship is believed to cause misfortune. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)



A group of women, who believe that they are possessed by evil spirits, dance and chant mantras on the eve of a full moon day, as they gather for the Ghost Festival at the banks of Kamala River in Dhanusha district, Nepal, 03 November 2017. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)

A group of women, who believe that they are possessed by evil spirits, dance and chant mantras on the eve of a full moon day, as they gather for the Ghost Festival at the banks of Kamala River in Dhanusha district, Nepal, 03 November 2017. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)



Marani Devi Chaudhary, aged 40, takes a holy dip in Kamala River after completing a healing ritual, on a full moon day during the Ghost Festival at the banks of the river in Dhanusha district, Nepal, 04 November 2017. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)

Marani Devi Chaudhary, aged 40, takes a holy dip in Kamala River after completing a healing ritual, on a full moon day during the Ghost Festival at the banks of the river in Dhanusha district, Nepal, 04 November 2017. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)



Dholak Kumari (L), an assistant shaman of Paltan Mukhiya (unseen), grabs the hair of Rinku Yadav (R), aged 20, for a holy dip during the Ghost Festival at the banks of Kamala River in Dhanusha district, Nepal, 04 November 2017. Rinku is mother of a two-year-old girl. Her husband has migrated to Kuwait for a labor job one year ago. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)

Dholak Kumari (L), an assistant shaman of Paltan Mukhiya (unseen), grabs the hair of Rinku Yadav (R), aged 20, for a holy dip during the Ghost Festival at the banks of Kamala River in Dhanusha district, Nepal, 04 November 2017. Rinku is mother of a two-year-old girl. Her husband has migrated to Kuwait for a labor job one year ago. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)



Rinku Yadav, aged 20, breast feeds her two-year-old daughter after she was rid of the evil spirit she was believed to have been possessed with during the Ghost Festival at the banks of Kamala River in Dhanusha district, Nepal, 04 November 2017. Rinku's husband has migrated to Kuwait for a labor job one year ago. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)

Rinku Yadav, aged 20, breast feeds her two-year-old daughter after she was rid of the evil spirit she was believed to have been possessed with during the Ghost Festival at the banks of Kamala River in Dhanusha district, Nepal, 04 November 2017. Rinku's husband has migrated to Kuwait for a labor job one year ago. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)



A group of women, who believe that they are possessed by evil spirits, dance and chant mantras on a full moon day during the Ghost Festival at the banks of Kamala River in Dhanusha district, Nepal, 04 November 2017. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)

A group of women, who believe that they are possessed by evil spirits, dance and chant mantras on a full moon day during the Ghost Festival at the banks of Kamala River in Dhanusha district, Nepal, 04 November 2017. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)



Shaman Paltan Mukhiya (L) and his assistant Dholak Kumari (C) put a mustard oil on Rinku Yadav's ear as they believes that she is possessed by an evil spirit during the Ghost Festival at the banks of Kamala River in Dhanusha district, Nepal, 04 November 2017. Rinku, aged 20, is mother of a two-year-old girl. Her husband has migrated to Kuwait for a labor job one year ago. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)

Shaman Paltan Mukhiya (L) and his assistant Dholak Kumari (C) put a mustard oil on Rinku Yadav's ear as they believes that she is possessed by an evil spirit during the Ghost Festival at the banks of Kamala River in Dhanusha district, Nepal, 04 November 2017. Rinku, aged 20, is mother of a two-year-old girl. Her husband has migrated to Kuwait for a labor job one year ago. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)



Kaushila Yadav, who is believed to be possessed by an evil spirit, dances and chants mantras in Kamala River on a full moon day during the Ghost Festival at the banks of the river in Dhanusha district, Nepal, 04 November 2017. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)

Kaushila Yadav, who is believed to be possessed by an evil spirit, dances and chants mantras in Kamala River on a full moon day during the Ghost Festival at the banks of the river in Dhanusha district, Nepal, 04 November 2017. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)



A shaman named Dilip Bhagat (L) grabs a woman by her hair, believing that she is possessed by an evil spirit, as she takes a holy dip during the Ghost Festival at the banks of Kamala River in Dhanusha district, Nepal, 04 November 2017. The beating and the holy dip is believed to help free the woman from the evil spirit. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)

A shaman named Dilip Bhagat (L) grabs a woman by her hair, believing that she is possessed by an evil spirit, as she takes a holy dip during the Ghost Festival at the banks of Kamala River in Dhanusha district, Nepal, 04 November 2017. The beating and the holy dip is believed to help free the woman from the evil spirit. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)
17 Nov 2017 06:53:00