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In Bode village, every New Year a man volunteers to fast twenty-four hours then stand on the stage to have his tounge bored with a thin steel spike. He walks through the village, the spike in place, and carries around disk like trellis, with flaming torches along the rim. In return for such a performance, it is believed, the man will go straight to Heaven when he dies. Kathmandu, Nepal.
Newar devotees circumambulate Kathmandu’s Seto Machhendranath temple. The cult of this idol is one of the oldest and most revered in the valley’s religion. The god is identified by the local Buddhist as Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattava of compassion, and by Hindus as Yamaraja, lord of death. Hindus come to light a candle before the idol when someone in the family is in danger of death. The idol receives a ritual bathing each winter before making its public appearance riding in a rath, or chariot, several weeks later. Kathmandu, Nepal.
On Magh Sakranti (during January-February) the sun changes its course and begins to “move” toward the northern hemisphere. Despite the penetrating cold, this day is deemed most beneficial for ritual bathing. Many men and women gather along the banks of the sacred Bagmati River, notably in Patan’s Sankhamole area, to lunch leaf-plate offerings of burning butter wiks while praising their gods and petitioning blessings. Kathmandu, Nepal.
Deuki Temple at Deomandu, Baitadi District, Nepal. The Deuki were historically dedicated to the Devi and acted as temple handmaidens.
Golden Temple. Kwabahal, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Hindu cremation ritual along the banks of the Bagmati, Pashupatinath.
Sadhu in front of Gorakhnath temple inside Pashupatinath complex.
Overview of Pashupatinath complex.
Overview of Pashupatinath complex.
Overview of Pashupatinath complex.
Overview of Pashupatinath complex.
Overview of Pashupatinath complex.
See photo in original gallery.
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