The heavy thud against the glass window sent Krishna Bahadur Rasaili’s heart racing. Stepping outside, he saw his granary lay in ruins, and an elephant was feasting on his hard-earned paddy harvest.

Fasting devotees have travelled about 13.5 kilometres on foot to reach the Pashupatinath Temple as part of their first "Pardes Yatra" which comes as a part of a ritual performed while undergoing a ...