Anticipating the Shivaratri festival

Dawn.com 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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Comments (4) Closed
Manish
Feb 16, 2012 07:35pm
Maha Shivaratri is not about smoking Marijuana, though some of the so called sadhus do indulge in it. one should be careful about making such comments about a festival specially religious in Nature.
Recommend 0
Kalyan
Feb 17, 2012 04:10am
While the photos are good for National Geographic Special, a little more information on the actual celebrations, the story behind it and significance to the faithful would make for a more complete story.
Recommend 0
shasi
Feb 20, 2012 10:26am
before any comments we must read history of it history is not dictionary its fact
Recommend 0
sadaf
Feb 21, 2012 03:13pm
it's just disgusting why you only put the photos of beggars and why dont ya post photos of devotee or deity or the festival itself it's such a waste of my time
Recommend 0

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