Public reading of religious scriptures

Public reading of the Mahābhārata

Photograph by W. Kröger (November 1971)

A Brāhmaṇ by profession, Paṇḍit Rāmshakti Rājopādhyāya (1925-1987), reads the Mahābhārata in Sanskrit and conveys a summary in Newārī herein this photograph. 

This public reading was held in November 1971 for a total of 120 days during the Caturmāsa (four months from new moon July to new moon November when Lord Viṣṇu is believed to be at dreamless sleep).

The photograph is taken at Salan Gaṇeś square, Bhaktapur.

At the center of this photograph on a straw mat (sukuḥ or sukul) are spread fried wheat, popped rice and beans, in the form of bākhampāḥ.