Anticipating the Shivaratri festival

Published February 15, 2012
A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, applies paint on his forehead at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu February 14, 2012. Hindu holy men from Nepal and India come to this temple to take part in the Shivaratri festival which falls on February 20. This is one of the biggest Hindu festivals dedicated to Lord Shiva and is celebrated by devotees all over the world, with holy men smoking marijuana and some smearing their bodies with ashes and praying. ? Reuters Photo
A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, applies paint on his forehead at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu February 14, 2012. Hindu holy men from Nepal and India come to this temple to take part in the Shivaratri festival which falls on February 20. This is one of the biggest Hindu festivals dedicated to Lord Shiva and is celebrated by devotees all over the world, with holy men smoking marijuana and some smearing their bodies with ashes and praying. ? Reuters Photo
A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, applies paint on his forehead at Pashupatinath Temple. ? Reuters Photo
A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, applies paint on his forehead at Pashupatinath Temple. ? Reuters Photo
A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, sits near the fire to dry the ashes smeared on his body at his ashram in Pashupatinath Temple. ? Reuters Photo
A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, sits near the fire to dry the ashes smeared on his body at his ashram in Pashupatinath Temple. ? Reuters Photo
A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, basks in the sun at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu . ? Reuters Photo
A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, basks in the sun at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu . ? Reuters Photo
A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, smokes marijuana at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu February 14, 2012. ? Reuters Photo
A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, smokes marijuana at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu February 14, 2012. ? Reuters Photo
A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, smears ashes on the back of his friend at their ashram in Pashupatinath Temple in . ? Reuters Photo
A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, smears ashes on the back of his friend at their ashram in Pashupatinath Temple in . ? Reuters Photo
A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, takes a bath in front of his ashram at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. ? Reuters Photo
A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, takes a bath in front of his ashram at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. ? Reuters Photo
A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, applies ashes on his face at Pashupatinath Temple. ? Reuters Photo
A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, applies ashes on his face at Pashupatinath Temple. ? Reuters Photo
A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, applies paint on his forehead at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu . ? Reuters Photo
A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, applies paint on his forehead at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu . ? Reuters Photo

Hindu holy men, or sadhu, apply paint on their foreheads at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, February 14, 2012.

Hindu holy men from Nepal and India come to this temple to take part in the Shivaratri festival which falls on February 20.

This is one of the biggest Hindu festivals dedicated to Lord Shiva and is celebrated by devotees all over the world, with holy men smoking marijuana and some smearing their bodies with ashes and praying. — Photos by Reuters

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