A month-long fasting of Hindu women in Nepal
Hindu women's month-long fasting service in Nepal
On January 7, a collective service of Hindu women began on the banks of the Sali Nadi River in Kathmandu, Nepal, which will last a month.
The religious festival, named 'Madhav Narayan' (Mahav Narayan), features fasting, dispensation and study of the Swasthani Bible, which refers to the Swasthani goddess.
Now, during religious practice, those who fasted were allowed to eat only one meal in the evening, and for the remainder of the time, they were mainly reinforced by water.
In the food eaten, they also completely avoid meat, fish and onion, and do not use "salt," but simply eat designated vegetarian foods such as fruits and dairy products.
Not only are such food restricted, but they also have to do exactly one month of physical purification in the river early in the morning, collective living in temples and reading and offering Swasthani Bibles.
Each evening a Biblical story is read out to family members assembled by religious leaders or heads of families.
Married women fast to have a suitable good husband, while married women pray fast to improve the family's commercial bribes.
During this festival, many married women and male worshippers also held month-long fast prayers for a better life and peace in the country. (Photo: EPA)