At the ceremony, Nepalese women sit around a bonfire to warm themselves before they take a holy dip in the Salinadi River on the first day of the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Sankhu, Nepal.

During the month-long festival, devotees recite Holy Scriptures dedicated to Hindu goddess Swasthani and Lord Shiva. Unmarried women pray to have a good husband while wives fast and pray for the longevity of their husbands.

Take a look at photos of some of the festival's rituals below:

Nepalese Hindu women sit around fires to keep warm before taking holy baths in the Saali River on the outskirts of Kathmandu

Unmarried women fast during the festival to get a good husband, as married women fast for their families’ prosperity

A Nepalese priest recites holy book on the bank of Salinadi River during the first day of month long Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Sankhu, on the outskirts of Katmandu

A Nepalese woman holds a plate containing a variety of items for performing a ritual during the first day of month long Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Sankhu, on the outskirts of Katmandu (AF photo)

A devotee takes a holy bath

A devotee wearing prayer beads returns from taking a holy bath

Devotees walk across a temporary bridge over the Saali river

A devotee offers prayer by crawling on the ground during the first day of Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Kathmandu on Thursday. (Reuters Photo) 

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