Culture

The full moon festival called Janai Purnima - observed last Friday – attracted thousands of Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims, revellers and traditionally-dressed shamans to several highland lakes spread across northern Nepal.

Marking the festival, which is also called Rakshya Bandhan, hordes of pilgrims and local tourists trekked for days to reach such Himalayan lakes as Gosainkunda in Rasuwa, Tsho Rolpa and Dudhkunda in Dolakha, Dudhkunda in Ramechhap, Surma Sarovar in Bajhang, and Badimalika and Budhi Ganga in Bajura.

Lakes in Karnali, Gandaki and the eastern regions also draw a large number of pilgrims during Janai Purnima.

Most of these lakes sit at an altitude of around 4,300 meters above sea level and require several days' on-foot journeys from nearby valleys. Once they reach the lakeshores, most pilgrims take a plunge in the freezing cold waters.

While Hindu pilgrims worship manifestations of Lord Shiva and other deities, and Buddhists worship Guru Rimpoche and other deities.

See some photos from Gosaikunda Lake in Rasuwa and Badimalika in Bajura - captured by NepalMinute photojournalists: