A dip of faith: Swasthani Brata Katha festival begins in Nepal

Nepalese Hindu women warm themselves beside fires after taking a bath in the holy River Sali. (Prakash Mathema/AFP Photo)

Updated on: Jan 25, 2016 3:48 AM IST

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Nepalese Hindu women warm themselves beside fires after taking a bath in the holy River Sali. (Prakash Mathema/AFP Photo)

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Nepalese Hindu devotees gather to bathe in the River Sali on the outskirts of Kathmandu. (Prakash Mathema/AFP PHOTO)

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A dip of faith: A woman devotee takes a holy bath in River Sali in Sankhu during the Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Kathmandu. (Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

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Women take a holy bath in River Sali and pray during the Swasthani Brata Katha festival for a good partner in life. (Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

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Hundreds of married and unmarried women in the Himalayan nation have started a month-long fast in the hope of a prosperous life and conjugal happiness. (Niranjan Shrestha/AP Photo)

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A Nepalese Hindu devotee prostrates on the ground as he prays outside a temple on the first day of month long Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Sankhu near Kathmandu. (Niranjan Shrestha/AP Photo)

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Hindu devotees walk near the holy River Sali on the outskirts of Kathmandu for Swasthani Bratakatha festival during which devotees recite holy scriptures dedicated to Hindu goddess Swasthani and Lord Shiva. (Prakash Mathema/AFP Photo)

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Unmarried women pray to get a good husband while those married pray for the longevity of their husbands by observing a month-long fast. (Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

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Devotees in the Himalayan nation also pray for a healthy, prosperous life and conjugal happiness during the month-long fast . (Prakash Mathema/ AFP Photo)

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‘Jai Shri Ram ’: A Nepalese priest wearing a saffron cloth offers a prayer during on the first day of Swasthani Bratakatha festival. (Niranjan Shrestha/AP Photo)

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A devotee wearing prayer beads returns after taking a holy bath at the Saali River during the Swasthani Brata Katha festival at Sankhu in Kathmandu, Nepal. (Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

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Meanwhile, a Hindu sage sits inside his shelter to keep himself warm. (Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

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A devotee laughs as he gets ready to take part for the festival at Sankhu during the Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Kathmandu. (Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)