During the festival devotees recite holy scriptures dedicated to the Hindu goddess Swasthani and Lord Shiva. (Photo: AP)
Nepalese Hindu wait to offer prayers during the Madhav Narayan Festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018. Incense, sweets and flowers are some of the offerings immersed into the river during the festival. (Photo: AP)
Nepalese Hindu devotees offer prayers while dipping half of their bodies into the Hanumante river during the Madhav Narayan Festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018. Many fast during this period. (Photo: AP)
A Nepalese Hindu offers prayers during the Madhav Narayan Festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018. Married women pray for their husbands to live a long life, while unmarried women pray to get a suitable groom. (Photo: AP)
Nepalese devotees warm themselves before taking a holy dip in the Hanumante river during the Madhav Narayan Festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018. Thousands of devotees are take dips in the holy water to pay tribute to goddess Swasthani, who is known to bring good fortune. (Photo: AP)
Nepalese Hindu devotees offer prayers along the banks of the Hanumante river during the Madhav Narayan Festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018. The religious festival generally begins from January on the full moon day of the Nepalese month of Poush. It ends on the following full moon day in February. (Photo: AP)
Nepalese devotees listen to the (unseen) Hindu priest reciting a chapter from the Swasthani Brata Katha book during the Madhav Narayan Festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018. Stories of various gods and goddesses are told. (Photo: AP)
A young Nepalese devotee collects water to offer a prayer at the banks of the Hanumante river during the Madhav Narayan Festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018. The festival is also known as the Swasthani Brata Katha festival. (Photo: AP)
Nepalese Hindus begin month-long Madhav Narayan celebrations