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A devotee is carried around town in a vessel as part of rituals during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival at Thecho in Lalitpur, Nepal, February 19, 2016. During the month long festival, devotees recite one chapter of a Hindu tale daily from the 31-chapter sacred Swasthani Brata Katha book that is dedicated to God Madhavnarayan and Goddess Swasthani, alongside various other gods and goddess and the miraculous feats performed by them. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A devotee is carried around town in a vessel as part of rituals during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival at Thecho in Lalitpur, Nepal, February 19, 2016. During the month long festival, devotees recite one chapter of a Hindu tale daily from the 31-chapter sacred Swasthani Brata Katha book that is dedicated to God Madhavnarayan and Goddess Swasthani, alongside various other gods and goddess and the miraculous feats performed by them. The devotees also 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. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



Devotees holding water pots wait to fill water, which is considered by them to be holy, from the Triveni River during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Panauti near Kathmandu, Nepal, February 12, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Devotees holding water pots wait to fill water, which is considered by them to be holy, from the Triveni River during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Panauti near Kathmandu, Nepal, February 12, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



Devotees take shelter inside the temporary shelter at Changu Narayan Temple during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal, February 19, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Devotees take shelter inside the temporary shelter at Changu Narayan Temple during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal, February 19, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



Devotees gather to offer prayers during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in the woods of Changu Narayan in Bhaktapur, Nepal, February 19, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Devotees gather to offer prayers during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in the woods of Changu Narayan in Bhaktapur, Nepal, February 19, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



A devotee covers herself with a shawl to keep warm after taking a holy bath on the Triveni River during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Panauti near Kathmandu, Nepal, February 12, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A devotee covers herself with a shawl to keep warm after taking a holy bath on the Triveni River during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Panauti near Kathmandu, Nepal, February 12, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



A devotee stands on hay to keep her feet warm after taking a holy bath on the Triveni River during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Panauti near Kathmandu, Nepal, February 12, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A devotee stands on hay to keep her feet warm after taking a holy bath on the Triveni River during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Panauti near Kathmandu, Nepal, February 12, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



A child holding a butter lamp takes part in the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Panauti near Kathmandu, Nepal, February 12, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A child holding a butter lamp takes part in the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Panauti near Kathmandu, Nepal, February 12, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



Devotees take a holy bath in the Triveni River during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Panauti near Kathmandu, Nepal, February 12, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Devotees take a holy bath in the Triveni River during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Panauti near Kathmandu, Nepal, February 12, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



Devotees gather around the fire near the bank of Triveni River to keep them warm after taking a holy bath during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Panauti near Kathmandu, Nepal, February 12, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Devotees gather around the fire near the bank of Triveni River to keep them warm after taking a holy bath during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Panauti near Kathmandu, Nepal, February 12, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



A Hindu holy man holds the holy Swasthani Brata Katha as he recites verses from the book at the bank of River Saali in Sankhu during the Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, January 24, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A Hindu holy man holds the holy Swasthani Brata Katha as he recites verses from the book at the bank of River Saali in Sankhu during the Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, January 24, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



People gather around as devotees offer prayers by rolling near the riverbank of Hanumante River before submerging themselves in the river during a month-long Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal, January 27, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

People gather around as devotees offer prayers by rolling near the riverbank of Hanumante River before submerging themselves in the river during a month-long Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal, January 27, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



Devotees return after taking a holy bath in the Triveni River during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Panauti near Kathmandu, Nepal, February 12, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Devotees return after taking a holy bath in the Triveni River during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Panauti near Kathmandu, Nepal, February 12, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



A devotee carrying a child takes part in the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Panauti near Kathmandu, Nepal, February 12, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A devotee carrying a child takes part in the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Panauti near Kathmandu, Nepal, February 12, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



A devotee walks out from the temple after offering prayers during a month-long Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal, January 27, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A devotee walks out from the temple after offering prayers during a month-long Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal, January 27, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



Devotees offer prayers before taking a holy bath in the Triveni River during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Panauti near Kathmandu, Nepal, February 12, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Devotees offer prayers before taking a holy bath in the Triveni River during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Panauti near Kathmandu, Nepal, February 12, 2016. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)
21 Feb 2016 11:32:00