KATHMANDU, April 12: Hundreds of Devotees flocked to Balaju’s historic Baisdhara today to observe the annual Baisdhara Mela organized on the auspicious occasion of Chaitra Shukla Purnima.
Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims took ritual baths under the 22 stone spouts (dhara), believed to purify the body and mind. Early morning saw long queues of devotees, young and old, waiting their turn to bathe in the sacred waters.
The holy bath is believed to have healing properties for skin-related and other ailments.
The festival blends religious devotion with cultural heritage. Many offered prayers, lit incense, and visited nearby shrines, preserving a centuries-old tradition passed down through generations.
Here are some photos of the devotees taking bath at Balaju’s Baisdhara taken by Republica’s Photojournalist Dipesh Darshandhari: