KATHMANDU, JANUARY 24 Devotees dress up and recount traditional tales of divine achievements performed by the gods along the streets of Bhaktapur. Among the various forms of Lord Vishnu, Madhav Narayan refers to the one worshipped during the month of Magh. Every year, thousands of devotees gather at Hanuman Ghat in Bhaktapur Municipality-7 to observe the Brata (ritual fasting), dedicated to Lord Madhav Narayan. The Swasthani Brata Katha begins on Paush Shukla Poornima (Full Moon Day) and continues until Magh Shukla Poornima. Month-long worship of Lord Madhav Narayan also takes place in Sankhu, based on the Swasthani narrative. The celebration in Bhaktapur offers a distinctly different experience from that of Sankhu on Saturday. Photos by Rajesh Gurung for The Himalayan Times