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Young Hindu priests perform a ritual during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. Hindus take holy baths and change their sacred thread, also known as Janai, for protection and purification, during the festival. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Young Hindu priests perform a ritual during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. Hindus take holy baths and change their sacred thread, also known as Janai, for protection and purification, during the festival. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



A Hindu priest wearing a sacred thread performs a ritual during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A Hindu priest wearing a sacred thread performs a ritual during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



Young Hindu priests perform a ritual during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Young Hindu priests perform a ritual during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



A Hindu priest takes a holy bath as part of a ritual during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A Hindu priest takes a holy bath as part of a ritual during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



Young Hindu priests take a holy bath together as part of a ritual during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Young Hindu priests take a holy bath together as part of a ritual during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



Young Hindu priests take a holy bath together as part of a ritual during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Young Hindu priests take a holy bath together as part of a ritual during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



Young Hindu priests take a holy bath together as part of a ritual during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Young Hindu priests take a holy bath together as part of a ritual during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



Young Hindu priests wearing sacred threads performs a ritual during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Young Hindu priests wearing sacred threads performs a ritual during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



Young Hindu priests wearing sacred threads performs a ritual during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Young Hindu priests wearing sacred threads performs a ritual during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



A hand of a devotee holding a sacred thread is pictured as he performs rituals during the Janai Purnima (Sacred Thread) Festival at Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A hand of a devotee holding a sacred thread is pictured as he performs rituals during the Janai Purnima (Sacred Thread) Festival at Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



A devotee offers prayers standing in the Bagmati River flowing through the premises of Pashupatinath temple during the Janai Purnima, or Sacred Thread, Festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A devotee offers prayers standing in the Bagmati River flowing through the premises of Pashupatinath temple during the Janai Purnima, or Sacred Thread, Festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



A Hindu priest holds a sacred thread during the Janai Purnima (Sacred Thread) Festival at Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A Hindu priest holds a sacred thread during the Janai Purnima (Sacred Thread) Festival at Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



A Hindu priest's forehead is covered with "tika", coloured powder and rice used as a blessing, during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A Hindu priest's forehead is covered with "tika", coloured powder and rice used as a blessing, during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



A Hindu priest (R) offers a new sacred thread to a devotee during the Janai Purnima (Sacred Thread) Festival at Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A Hindu priest (R) offers a new sacred thread to a devotee during the Janai Purnima (Sacred Thread) Festival at Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



Hindu priests perform a ritual during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Hindu priests perform a ritual during the Janai Purnima festival (Sacred Thread Festival) at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



Nepalese students of a Hindu school bathe during Janai Purnima Festival celebrations at the Pashupati temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, 18 August 2016. During Janai Purnima, also known as the Sacred Thread festival or Rakshya Bandhan festival, Hindu men, especially the Brahmans and Chettris, perform their annual change of Janai, sacred threads worn across the chest or tied around the wrist. Purified by mantras, the thread is a symbol of protection, according to Hindu belief. The festival also marks the end of the monsoon season. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA)

Nepalese students of a Hindu school bathe during Janai Purnima Festival celebrations at the Pashupati temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, 18 August 2016. During Janai Purnima, also known as the Sacred Thread festival or Rakshya Bandhan festival, Hindu men, especially the Brahmans and Chettris, perform their annual change of Janai, sacred threads worn across the chest or tied around the wrist. Purified by mantras, the thread is a symbol of protection, according to Hindu belief. The festival also marks the end of the monsoon season. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA)



Nepalese Hindu priests perform rituals during Janai Purnima festival at Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, August 18, 2016. During this festival Hindus take holy baths and perform annual change of the Janai, a sacred cotton string worn around their chest or tied on the wrist, in the belief that it will protect and purify them. (Photo by Niranjan Shrestha/AP Photo)

Nepalese Hindu priests perform rituals during Janai Purnima festival at Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, August 18, 2016. During this festival Hindus take holy baths and perform annual change of the Janai, a sacred cotton string worn around their chest or tied on the wrist, in the belief that it will protect and purify them. (Photo by Niranjan Shrestha/AP Photo)



A Nepalese Hindu priest adjusts his hair while performing rituals during Janai Purnima festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, August 18, 2016. During this festival Hindus take holy baths and perform annual change of the Janai, a sacred cotton string worn around their chest or tied on the wrist, in the belief that it will protect and purify them. (Photo by Niranjan Shrestha/AP Photo)

A Nepalese Hindu priest adjusts his hair while performing rituals during Janai Purnima festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, August 18, 2016. During this festival Hindus take holy baths and perform annual change of the Janai, a sacred cotton string worn around their chest or tied on the wrist, in the belief that it will protect and purify them. (Photo by Niranjan Shrestha/AP Photo)
19 Aug 2016 11:48:00