Every year, thousands of Hindu devotees gather in front of Shri Shri Lokenath Brahmachari Ashram temple for the Kartik Brati or Rakher Upobash festival at Barodi, Narayanganj, Bangladesh.

The smoke generated by lighting the oil lamps and candles creates a surreal environment during the Rakher Upobash festival at Barodi, Narayanganj, Bangladesh.

Hindu devotees fast and offer prayers by lighting oil lamps and candles during the Rakher Upobash festival at Barodi, Narayanganj, Bangladesh.

A Hindu devotee pours ghee on the fire during the Rakher Upobash festival at Barodi, Narayanganj, Bangladesh on November 14, 2023. During this religious festival, known as Kartik Brati, Hindus fast and offer prayers by lighting oil lamps and candles. Throughout the country, thousands of devotees also visit temples to pray for good health.

Two boys cover their faces with clothes to protect their eyes from the excessive smoke during the Rakher Upobash festival at Barodi, Narayanganj, Bangladesh.

Two women offer their prayers, placing the oil lamps in front of them during the Rakher Upobash festival at Barodi, Narayanganj, Bangladesh.

A young girl prays during the Rakher Upobash festival at Barodi, Narayanganj, Bangladesh. Many children also attended the festival with their families.

Hindu devotees offer their prayers, placing the oil lamps in front of them during the Rakher Upobash festival at Barodi, Narayanganj, Bangladesh on November 14, 2023. During this religious festival, known as Kartik Brati, Hindus fast and offer prayers by lighting oil lamps and candles. Throughout the country, thousands of devotees also visit temples to pray for good health.

A Hindu woman and a Hindu man with a tattoo of Shri Shri Lokenath Brahmachari pray in the Rakher Upobash festival at Barodi, Narayanganj, Bangladesh. Lokenath Brahmachari, called Baba Lokenath, was an 18th Century Hindu saint and philosopher in Bengal.

A Hindu man lifts his arms during his prayer in the Rakher Upobash festival at Barodi, Narayanganj, Bangladesh.

Women offer their prayers, placing the oil lamps in front of them during the Rakher Upobash festival at Barodi, Narayanganj, Bangladesh on November 14, 2023. During this religious festival, known as Kartik Brati, Hindus fast and offer prayers by lighting oil lamps and candles. Throughout the country, thousands of devotees also visit temples to pray for good health.

A Hindu woman lifts her arms during her prayer in the Rakher Upobash festival at Barodi, Narayanganj, Bangladesh.

Hindu devotees lift their arms during their prayer in the Rakher Upobash festival at Barodi, Narayanganj, Bangladesh on November 14, 2023. During this religious festival, known as Kartik Brati, Hindus fast and offer prayers by lighting oil lamps and candles. Throughout the country, thousands of devotees also visit temples to pray for good health.

A mother (left) takes care of her children and a woman (right) prays during the Rakher Upobash festival at Barodi, Narayanganj, Bangladesh on November 14, 2023. During this religious festival, known as Kartik Brati, Hindus fast and offer prayers by lighting oil lamps and candles. Throughout the country, thousands of devotees also visit temples to pray for good health.

Devotees waiting for food after finishing their prayer in the Rakher Upobash festival at Barodi, Narayanganj, Bangladesh.

Hindu devotees take preparation to carry the oil lamps to a dumping place after their prayer. The oil lamps and candles were arranged in rows before the prayer and carried by the devotees to a dumping place after the prayer. November 14, 2023. During this religious festival, known as Kartik Brati, Hindus fast and offer prayers by lighting oil lamps and candles. Throughout the country, thousands of devotees also visit temples to pray for good health.

A Hindu woman takes preparation to carry the oil lamps to a dumping place after her prayer. The oil lamps and candles were arranged in rows before the prayer and carried by the devotees to a dumping place after the prayer.

Hindu devotees carry their oil lamps and candles to a dumping place where they dump all the oil lamps and candles after their prayers during the Rakher Upobash festival at Barodi, Narayanganj, Bangladesh.

Every year thousands of Hindu devotees gather in front of Shri Shri Lokenath Brahmachari Ashram temple for the Kartik Brati or Rakher Upobash religious festival in Barodi, Naryanganj, Bangladesh. During this religious festival, known as Kartik Brati, Hindus fast and offer prayers by lighting oil lamps and candles. Throughout the country, thousands of devotees also visit temples to pray for good health.

Lokenath Brahmachari, called Baba Lokenath, was an 18th Century Hindu saint and philosopher in Bengal. Hindu worshipers fast and pray in earnest to the gods for blessings and good health during the traditional ritual called Kartik Brati or Rakher Upobash.

This photo essay explores different rituals, activities, expressions, and emotions in the Rakher Upobash Festival.