Hindus celebrate Maha Shivaratri
The festival of Maha Shivaratri is marked by Hindus fasting and offering prayers in a night-long vigil.
- Nepalese hindu devotees walk near the Pashupatinath Temple on the eve of the Hindu festival Maha Shivaratri in Kathmandu on March 6, 2016. Hindus mark the Maha Shivratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting. (PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP/Getty Images)
- An Indian artist dressed as Hindu goddess Kali performs during a religious procession to mark the Hindu festival of Maha Shivratri in Allahabad on March 7, 2016. Hindus mark the Maha Shivaratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting to worship the deity Shiva. (SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP/Getty Images)
- Indian artists dressed as Hindu deities perform during a religious procession to mark the Hindu festival of Maha Shivratri in Allahabad on March 7, 2016. Hindus mark the Maha Shivaratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting to worship the deity Shiva. (SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP/Getty Images)
- Indian devotees light diyas (earthen lamps) to honor Hindu deity Shiva during the Maha Shivaratri festival in Hyderabad on March 7, 2016. The festival of Maha Shivaratri is marked by Hindus by fasting and offering prayers in a night-long vigil. (NOAH SEELAM/AFP/Getty Images)
- An Indian Hindu devotee of the deity Shiva holds a human skull during a religious procession to mark the Hindu festival of Maha Shivratri in Allahabad on March 7, 2016. Hindus mark the Maha Shivaratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting to worship the deity Shiva. (SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP/Getty Images)
- An Indian Hindu devotee of the deity Shiva holds a human bone in his mouth during a religious procession to mark the Hindu festival of Maha Shivratri in Allahabad on March 7, 2016. Hindus mark the Maha Shivaratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting to worship the deity Shiva. (SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP/Getty Images)
- Indian artists dressed as Hindu deities take part in a religious procession to mark the Hindu festival of Maha Shivratri in Allahabad on March 7, 2016. Hindus mark the Maha Shivaratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting to worship the deity Shiva. (SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP/Getty Images)
- An Indian artist dressed as a Hindu deity performs in a religious procession to mark the Hindu festival of Maha Shivratri in Allahabad on March 7, 2016. Hindus mark the Maha Shivaratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting to worship the deity Shiva. (SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP/Getty Images)
- Indian devotees offer prayers after lighting diyas (earthen lamps) in a shape representing Hindu deity Shiva to mark the Maha Shivaratri festival in Hyderabad on March 7, 2016. The festival of Maha Shivaratri is marked by Hindus by fasting and offering prayers in a night-long vigil. (NOAH SEELAM/AFP/Getty Images)
- A Hindu holy man waits to receive alms from devotees at the courtyard of the Pashupatinath temple during “Shivaratri” festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, March 7, 2016. “Shivaratri,” or the night of Shiva, is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of death and destruction. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
- A Nepalese Sadhu (Hindu holy man) looks on during preparations for the Maha Shivaratri festival in Kathmandu on March 7, 2016. Hindus mark the Maha Shivratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting. Hundreds of sadhu have arrived in Kathmandu’s Pashupatinath to take part in the Maha Shivaratri festival. (PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP/Getty Images)
- Sadhus (Hindu holy men) stand near the Pashupatinath Temple on the eve of the Hindu festival Maha Shivaratri in Kathmandu on March 6, 2016, on the eve of the Hindu festival Maha Shivaratri.
- A Nepalese Hindu Sadhu (holy man) paints colored paste onto his face during the Maha Shivaratri festival in Kathmandu on March 7, 2016. Hindus mark the Maha Shivratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting. Hundreds of sadhu have arrived in Kathmandu’s Pashupatinath to take part in the Maha Shivaratri festival. (PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP/Getty Images)
- Young Indian Hindu devotees dressed as Hindu deities take part in a procession during the Maha Shivaratri festival in Amritsar on March 7, 2016. The festival of Maha Shivaratri is marked by Hindus through fasting and offering prayers in a night-long vigil. (NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images)
- A Nepalese Hindu Sadhu (holy man) paints colored paste onto his face during the Maha Shivaratri festival in Kathmandu on March 7, 2016. Hindus mark the Maha Shivratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting. Hundreds of sadhu have arrived in Kathmandu’s Pashupatinath to take part in the Maha Shivaratri festival. (PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP/Getty Images)
- Sadhus (Hindu holy men) stand near the Pashupatinath Temple on the eve of the Hindu festival Maha Shivaratri in Kathmandu on March 6, 2016, on the eve of the Hindu festival Maha Shivaratri. Hindus mark the Maha Shivratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting. (PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP/Getty Images)
- A Sadhu (Hindu holy man) poses near the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu on on March 6, 2016, on the eve of the Hindu festival Maha Shivaratri. Hindus mark the Maha Shivratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting. (PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP/Getty Images)
- A Nepalese Sadhu (Hindu holy man) holds a snake as he sits near the Pashupatinath Temple during the Maha Shivaratri festival in Kathmandu on March 7, 2016. Hindus mark the Maha Shivratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting. Hundreds of sadhu have arrived in Kathmandu’s Pashupatinath to take part in the Maha Shivaratri festival. (PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP/Getty Images)
- Sadhus – Hindu holy man – sit near the Pashupatinath temple on the eve of the Hindu festival Maha Shivaratri in Kathmandu on March 6, 2016. Hindus mark the Maha Shivratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting.(PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP/Getty Images)
- A Nepalese man takes a selfie with a Sadhu (Hindu holy man) dressed as Hanuman, the Monkey God in the Hindu Pantheon at the Pashupatinath temple on the eve of the Hindu festival Maha Shivaratri in Kathmandu on March 6, 2016. Hindus mark the Maha Shivratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting. (PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP/Getty Images)
- A Sadhu (Hindu holy man) poses near the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu on on March 6, 2016, on the eve of the Hindu festival Maha Shivaratri. Hindus mark the Maha Shivratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting. (PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP/Getty Images)
- A Nepalese Sadhu (Hindu holy man) ties his hair during perparations for the Maha Shivaratri festival in Kathmandu on March 7, 2016. Hindus mark the Maha Shivratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting. Hundreds of sadhu have arrived in Kathmandu’s Pashupatinath to take part in the Maha Shivaratri festival. (PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP/Getty Images)
- A Nepalese Sadhu (Hindu holy man) smokes marijuana using a chillum, a traditional clay pipe, as a holy offering for Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of creation and destruction, near the Pashupatinath Temple during the Maha Shivaratri festival in Kathmandu on March 7, 2016. Hindus mark the Maha Shivratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting. Hundreds of sadhu have arrived in Kathmandu’s Pashupatinath to take part in the Maha Shivaratri festival. (PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP/Getty Images)
- An Indian Hindu devotee dressed as the deity Shiva takes part in a procession during the Maha Shivaratri festival in Amritsar on March 7, 2016. The festival of Maha Shivaratri is marked by Hindus through fasting and offering prayers in a night-long vigil. (NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images)
- Indian devotees light diyas (earthen lamps) to honor Hindu deity Shiva during the Maha Shivaratri festival in Hyderabad on March 7, 2016. The festival of Maha Shivaratri is marked by Hindus by fasting and offering prayers in a night-long vigil. (NOAH SEELAM/AFP/Getty Images)