Every year the Newar community of Khokana village in Latipur, in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley, takes part in the colourful Shikali festival. It's a local alternative to Dashain, one of Hinduism's biggest festivals.
A priest in traditional attire takes part in the festivitiesNavesh Chitrakar/ Reuters
During the festival, mediums wear colourful clay masks, each representing different Hindu gods and goddesses, including Lord Shiva, Lord Bishnu and Lord Ganesha. Villagers offer sacrificed animals and prayers in hope of gaining blessing from the deities. Reuters photographer Navesh Chitrakar has documented this years Shikali celebrations:
A medium prepares for a deity's processionNavesh Chitrakar/ ReutersElaborate and colourful masks are a feature of the festivalNavesh Chitrakar/ ReutersA group of priests prepare to take partNavesh Chitrakar/ ReutersThe lighting of oil lamps is one of the festival's ritualsNavesh Chitrakar/ ReutersA priest is silhouetted against the Nepalese skyNavesh Chitrakar/ ReutersDevotees holding sugarcane sticks as part of a Shikali ritualNavesh Chitrakar/ ReutersDevotees beat drums with elaborate bamboo sticksNavesh Chitrakar/ Reuters
Crowds watch a medium playing the part of a deityNavesh Chitrakar/ Reuters
Buffalo intestine are draped as an offering on the portrait of a god, BhairavaNavesh Chitrakar/ Reuters
A goat sacrificed during the Shikali festival is carried awayNavesh Chitrakar/ Reuters
A local priest who has clearly witnessed many Shikali festivalsNavesh Chitrakar/ Reuters
