1.
GV & SV Street scenes of Kathmandu
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2.
SCU Flute players and drummer playing (4 shots)
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CU Shrine
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TOP View people around shrine
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SCU People throw offerings to shrine (2 shots)
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GV crowds PAN To people around shrine
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CU foot of shrine
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SV Children writing in shrineplinth
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GTV Crowds around shrine
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Initials PH/VS/BOB/PS PH/VS/BOB/BJ



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Each year on the day of Ba Sant-which heralds the onset of Spring - the people of Nepal worship Sarasvati, the Hindu Goddess of Learning.

A national holiday, celebrations this year fell last Tuesday (Feb. 10th). Nepalese from many parts of the country flocked to the capital, Kathmandu, where a special service was held at Sarasvati's shrine on the outskirts of the city.

At shrine, worshippers offered prayers and gifts to Sarasvati and sought her blessing.

As Goddess of Learning and the Arts, many of her devotees are students who have helped to spread the Hindu Festival to several predominate Buddhist districts in South East Asia.

Over half the population of Nepal are Hindus, which is the religion of the Royal Family.