As virus curbs Nepal's festivals, devotees fear gods' anger The mask of Lakhe, a traditional mask dancer worshipped as a god, is covered with floral garlands after rituals were performed during Indrajatra festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. A lockdown was ordered around the eight days when the canceled Indrajatra festival would have been held, and instead, a small ceremony to seek forgiveness from Indra, the Hindu god of rain, was held under government security. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
A Nepalese woman offers prayers in front of the closed gate of Pashupatinath temple during the holy month of Shrawan in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, July 20, 2020. Autumn is the festival season in predominantly Hindu Nepal, where religion, celebrations and rituals are big parts of lives, but people this year will have to scale down their rituals within their homes. Nepalese authorities imposed a strict coronavirus lockdown in March that was eased in July. But the ban of outdoor festivals and religious gatherings continues and temples remain locked. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Living God Bhairav, center, walks back home after a ritual was performed during Indrajatra festival as the festival was canceled to control the spread of the coronavirus in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. A lockdown was ordered around the eight days when the canceled Indrajatra festival would have been held, and instead, a small ceremony to seek forgiveness from Indra, the Hindu god of rain, was held under government security. Many in this Himalayan nation believe they would anger the gods by shunning the rituals which would cause catastrophe. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Living God Ganesh, center, walks back home after a ritual was performed during Indrajatra festival as the festival was canceled to control the spread of the coronavirus in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. A lockdown was ordered around the eight days when the canceled Indrajatra festival would have been held, and instead, a small ceremony to seek forgiveness from Indra, the Hindu god of rain, was held under government security. Many in this Himalayan nation believe they would anger the gods by shunning the rituals which would cause catastrophe. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Nepalese devotees collect water from the Bagmati river to perform rituals as the Pashupati temple was closed as a precautionary measure against the spread of the coronavirus in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Aug. 21, 2020. The old palace courtyard packed with hundreds of thousands of people each year during the festival season is deserted, the temples are locked and all public celebrations are banned by the government to curb the coronavirus. Autumn is the festival season in predominantly Hindu Nepal, where religion, celebrations and rituals are big parts of lives, but people this year will have to scale down their rituals within their homes. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Living God Ganesh walks out from the residence of Living Goddess Kumari after performing rituals during Indrajatra festival as the festival was canceled to control the spread of the coronavirus in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. A lockdown was ordered around the eight days when the canceled Indrajatra festival would have been held, and instead, a small ceremony to seek forgiveness from Indra, the Hindu god of rain, was held under government security. Many in this Himalayan nation believe they would anger the gods by shunning the rituals which would cause catastrophe. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
A Nepalese Hindu Priest walks at the deserted Pashupatinath temple premises during Teej festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Aug. 21, 2020. Autumn is the festival season in predominantly Hindu Nepal, where religion, celebrations and rituals are big parts of lives, but people this year will have to scale down their rituals within their homes. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
A Nepalese man waits for his turn to perform rituals as traditional drums are seen hanging on the wall during Gunla festival at Swayembhunath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. Autumn is the festival season in predominantly Hindu Nepal, where religion, celebrations and rituals are big parts of lives, but people this year will have to scale down their rituals within their homes. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
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The mask of Lakhe, a traditional mask dancer worshipped as a god, is covered with floral garlands after rituals were performed during Indrajatra festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. A lockdown was ordered around the eight days when the canceled Indrajatra festival would have been held, and instead, a small ceremony to seek forgiveness from Indra, the Hindu god of rain, was held under government security. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)