KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Devotees pulled a wooden chariot with a girl revered as a living goddess in Nepal, kicking off the festival season in the Himalayan nation on Friday even as it struggles to recover from devastating floods last month. Meteorologists warned of more heavy rainfall this week.
The weeklong Indra Jatra festival is the first of a string of celebrations in the predominantly Hindu nation. Dasain, the main festival, is coming up in October, while Tihar — or Diwali, the Festival of Lights — is due in November.
The festival of Indra Jatra marks the end of the monsoon and rice farming season and signals the start of fall. It’s celebrated mostly by the Newar community, the native residents of Kathmandu, the Nepalese capital. It is also known as the festival of deities and demons, and especially honors Indra, the Hindu god of rain.
As Kumari, a young girl revered by both Hindus and Buddhists in Nepal as a living goddess, was taken around the center of Kathmandu, worshippers lined up to receive her blessing. Nepalese President Ram Chandra Poudel, officials and diplomats attended the ceremony on Friday.
Nepalese authorities warned of heavy rainfall forecast until Sunday and cautioned residents living near rivers. Schools across the country were shut down on Thursday and Friday.
Landslides and flooding on Friday closed some major highways, but no casualties were reported.
According to the country's disaster management agency, rescuers were still looking for those missing in the massive Aug. 26 flooding that destroyed several towns and killed 1,453 people when a Himalayan slope collapsed and unleashed catastrophic flooding.
Some 5,550 people are still missing, including hundreds of foreign tourists. Family members of workers missing at a key power plant since the flooding have demanded authorities speed up the recovery efforts.
FILE - Homes are engulfed in mud in the aftermath of flash flooding along the Trishuli River in the Devighat area of Nuwakot district, Nepal, Aug. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh, File)
FILE - Homes sit damaged in the aftermath of flash flooding along the Trishuli River in the Trishuli Bazaar area of Nuwakot district, Nepal, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh, File)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — With each misfire by quarterback Carson Wentz, the boos directed at the Minnesota Vikings' sputtering offense grew louder on Monday night.
The reaction came from the same fanbase happy to see Wentz start against the Buffalo Bills after previous struggles from Kyler Murray. For as much as Minnesota's defense did its part against quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills, there are no answers at quarterback for Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell.
Starting for Murray — who is week-to-week with a hamstring strain — Wentz finished 8-of-25 passing for 81 yards and three turnovers in a 23-6 loss.
“To go kind of lay an egg, personally, the way I struggled early, especially with our defense playing as good as they’ve been all year, honestly," Wentz said. "They did it again tonight, and we just didn’t help them out. I didn’t help them out. It’s hard to put my finger on the why.”
Early on, Wentz fired high on several passes. One attempt, on the second offensive possession of the game, was ruled a backward pass and fumble as receiver Justin Jefferson’s leaping attempt to grab it kept the ball in play for an easy recovery by Buffalo.
Minnesota didn’t get a first down until a penalty on Buffalo midway through the second quarter. The Vikings had 86 total yards in the first half, aided by a seven-play, 46-yard drive in the final minute.
“Just not even close offensively to what we want to be,” O’Connell said. “I thought there was some opportunities to kind of flip that game a little bit, at multiple times, but we just never got Carson in a rhythm. We tried a bunch of tools to see if we could help that happen. I just didn’t do a good enough job.”
On the first drive of the second half, Wentz was intercepted by linebacker Dorian Williams, who had tight end T.J. Hockenson blanketed. On the next possession, Jordan Mason ran for 24 yards on three plays. Then Wentz targeted Jefferson and linebacker Terrel Bernard was standing in the way for another interception.
Bernard nearly had a second interception later in the quarter. Wentz had his foot stepped on by left guard Joe Huber as he threw, and the pass went straight to Bernard, who dropped it.
This was not the outcome O’Connell or the Vikings hoped for with Wentz against a Buffalo defense that had surrendered 254.7 passing yards per game coming in, the third-worst mark in the NFL.
“This one felt pretty terrible. I’m not going to lie," Wentz said of getting another start after filling in for Murray twice earlier this season.
Wentz completed just 1 of 8 passes in the second half before being replaced by Max Brosmer with 4:40 left.
Of course, Brosmer’s entrance brought cheers from the crowd. The second-year undrafted quarterback out of the University of Minnesota was 6 of 7 for 58 yards on his one drive that ended after a fourth-and-9 completion to Hockenson was a yard short.
Minnesota had a season-low 178 yards of offense. A defense that had allowed a league-low 13.3 points per game and was second in yards allowed per game to Seattle has no complementary component.
“Offensive side of the ball, that’s kind of the only missing piece at this very moment,” Jefferson said. “Defense is playing very good ball. Special teams are doing what they need to do. Will (Reichard) is making field goals. We just got to be better at sustaining some drives, extending plays, extending drives and putting points on the board.”
The conundrum at quarterback continues for Minnesota, which is 6-2 after back-to-back losses.
A stout defense and a devout fanbase are wondering when the answer will come.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) leaps for the ball over Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford (47) as Jefferson attempts to catch the ball during the first half of an NFL football game in Minneapolis, Monday, Nov. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell looks onto the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Minneapolis, Monday, Nov. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, left, reacts as Buffalo Bills cornerbacks Dee Alford (23) and Davison Igbinosun (21) and safety Geno Stone (25) celebrate a defensive stop during the second half of an NFL football game in Minneapolis, Monday, Nov. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) grimaces as he walks off the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Minneapolis, Monday, Nov. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)
