Last Updated on 05/15/2019 by Mark Beckenbach
All photos by Skanda Gautam. Used with Creative Commons permission.
Kathmandu-based photojournalist Skanda Gautam is one of our go-to photographers whenever we get curious about life in Nepal. It’s easy to see why with some of his work we’ve previously featured. We’re adding one more to our pile of favorites of his: the beautiful Culture Series in Nepal, which showcases some fascinating scenes during festivals in Nepal in February. If the country is still on your to-visit list, we’re sure these photos will inspire you to keep an eye out for the next festivals!
The scenes Gautam captured show devotees on the last day of the month-long celebrations of the Madhav Narayan and Swasthani Brata Katha Festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal. He captured various activities taken by devotees throughout the month-long fast devoted to Goddess Shree Swasthani and God Madhav Narayan. These include reciting the Holy Scripture and praying for the well-being of their spouses, taking ritual dips and prayers on the Hanumante River, and participating in prayer processions.
Prior to the festival, he also photographed a couple of scenes during the Gyalpo Lhosar, or the Tibetan New Year celebrations marking the Year of the Pig, at the Sherpa Monastery in Kathmandu.
Based on what we’ve seen so far, Nepal is not short on colorful and vibrant festivals. So if you’re planning to visit soon, make sure to research any festivity or cultural event happening during your time there. While we’re at it, you might want to bookmark Guatam’s Behance portfolio to get an idea on the celebrations to look out for! When he’s not photographing festivities and cultural celebrations, Gautam also documents some of his country’s most pressing issues, as well as social stories that show a glimpse of daily life on his side of the world.
You may also want to follow Skanda Gautam on Instagram to stay updated on his work.