To celebrate the annual agricultural festival of Asar Pandra, or National Paddy Day, Nepalese farmers played soccer and soaked themselves in water and mud in central Nepal’s village of Lele. /Chinanews Photo

The festival, which falls on "Asar 15" of the Nepalese calendar, marks the beginning of the rice plantation season. This year, the festival fell on Friday. /Chinanews Photo

On the day, farmers across the country dance, play with mud water and plant rice in the field in hope for a fruitful harvest season. /Chinanews Photo

Since rice is the staple food of Nepal, the country named the festival as the National Paddy Day since 2005 with the primary objective to improve rice productivity. /Chinanews Photo