Festival-goers cover themselves in red powder to welcome spring and the new year in a spectacular ceremony in Nepal
- The festival takes place over nine days in the Bhaktapur district of central Nepal
- The event started on Monday and ends on April 18
Bisket Jatra in Nepal is on its way, with crowds pictured covered in red powder and celebrating in the streets.
The annual festival takes place over nine days in the Bhaktapur district of central Nepal.
The event started on Monday and ends on April 18.
Held in mid-April, the festival welcomes the Nepalese New Year and marks the arrival of the spring season.
Thousands of people from different parts of the country gather in the city of Bhaktapur to take part in the colorful celebrations.
The chariot of the deity Bhairavnath was pulled from Biska Jatra to Thimi in Bhaktapur district on Friday on the fifth day.
Local youths dragged the cart early in the morning, lighting traditional lamps and playing musical instruments.
During the festival, the residents of Thane (upper) and Kwane (lower) districts of Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a palace complex, pull the three-storey pagoda-style chariot, where statues of Bhairavnath and Betal are installed.
A tug of war determines which half of the city the chariot will go to first.
The side that pulls the chariot to their ward is considered the winners.
On the fourth day of the festival, lyo sin dyo, a tall pole, is erected to mark the end of the year.
Revelers covered in red powder celebrate the Bisket Jatra festival in Thimi in the Bhaktapur district on the outskirts of Kathmandu on April 15, 2023
Crowds gather at Bisket Jatra festival in Thimi in Bhaktapur district on the outskirts of Kathmandu on April 15, 2023
People make their way through the streets at the Bisket Jatra festival in Thimi in the Bhaktapur district on the outskirts of Kathmandu on April 15, 2023
An aerial view of the Bisket Jatra festival in Thimi in the Bhaktapur district on the outskirts of Kathmandu on April 15, 2023
Drums are played at Bisket Jatra Festival in Thimi in Bhaktapur district on the outskirts of Kathmandu on April 15, 2023
A procession on the occasion of the Bisket Jatra festival on the outskirts of Kathmandu on April 15, 2023
Devotees carry an idol of Hindu god Bhairav during the Bisket Jatra festival to be held in Bhaktapur on April 10, 2023 to mark the Nepalese New Year
Hindu devotees pull a tall ceremonial pole called Lingo during the Bisket Jatra festival to be held in Bhaktapur on April 13, 2023 to mark the Nepalese New Year
Devotees pull a wooden chariot carrying an idol of Hindu god Bhairav during the Bisket Jatra festival to be held in Bhaktapur on April 13, 2023 to mark the Nepalese New Year
Hindu devotees with flaming torches take part in a procession on the occasion of Bisket Jatra, a festival held in honor of the Nepalese New Year, in Thimi on April 14, 2023
A Hindu devotee with a metal needle piercing takes part in a procession in honor of the Bisket Jatra festival on the occasion of Nepali New Year, on the outskirts of Kathmandu on April 15, 2023. Every year, on the second day of the Nepali New Year, Bode is witness a mouth-watering ceremony
Thousands celebrate the Bisket Jatra festival in Thimi in Bhaktapur district on the outskirts of Kathmandu on April 15, 2023
Devotees pull a wooden chariot carrying an idol of Hindu god Bhairav during the Bisket Jatra festival to be held in Bhaktapur on April 10, 2023 to mark the Nepalese New Year
Hindu devotees carry flaming torches as they take part in a procession to mark Bisket Jatra, a festival held in honor of the Nepalese New Year, in Thimi, minutes after midnight on April 15, 2023