Nepal’s ‘Bhoot Mela’ draws massive crowd on Kartik Purnima

Nov 05, 2025

Siraha (Nepal), Nov 05 (ANI): The vibrant and mystical “Bhoot Mela” or Ghost Fair was celebrated along the banks of the Kamala River, drawing thousands of devotees and curious visitors to Siraha and Dhanusha districts in Nepal. Held annually on the sacred occasion of Kartik Purnima, the festival is deeply rooted in spiritual belief and centuries-old rituals. People believe that taking a dip in the river helps drive away evil forces, making the ritual bath the main highlight of the event. Believed to ward off evil spirits, bathing in the river is a key ritual. The Bhoot Mela is as much a cultural spectacle as it is a spiritual one. Shamans perform rituals for ancestral spirits and deities on this day, giving the event its name, the “Bhoot Mela.” From the early hours of dawn, devotees thronged the riverbanks which form a natural boundary between the two districts to take a holy dip in the Kamala River. The ritual bath is considered the central highlight of the fair, believed to cleanse the body, ward off evil spirits, and bring peace and prosperity to one’s life.