A Nepalese soldier from the Royal Gurkha Rifles regiment of the British army, Brigade of Gurkhas cleans a multi-purpose machine gun before the start of Dashain, at Lashkar Gah district, Helmand province, Sept. 23. The Royal Gurkha Rifles are the only Gurkha unit in the British army. Dashain, a 15-day Nepalese national and religious-festival, and is the country’s longest and most auspicious festival. Dashain commemorates the victories of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahisasur, goddess Durga is worshiped throughout Nepal as the divine mother goddess.