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Janai Purnima : The Festival of Several Significance

Nepal  is blessed with the natural beauty comprising diverse geography, unique topography, and rich biodiversity, but it is also blessed with rich culture and tradition. Nepal is home to several religion groups including Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, and Kiranti. These are just the major religious groups; 36 different ethnic groups in Nepal follows their distinctive customs and culture and speak the ethnic language.

Nepal is also home to fascinating festivals, deeply influenced by religion, diverse culture, and spirituality. There’s no ideal way to experience Nepal in all its wonderful ethnic diversity than through its vibrant festivals . Filled with color, sacred rituals, culture, the magnificent festivals of Nepal would definitely delight the visitors.

Whether you are solo, family or school groups, the exotic festivals of Nepal would certainly provide you an amazing experience!  Participating in the festival is a perfect way to gain an insight into the diverse treasures of Nepalese culture and to discover Nepal’s eccentric charm.

Among the countless festivals, Janai Purnima is one of such festivals which is popularly known as a sacred thread festival observed by Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain.

Table of Contents

WHAT IS THE JANAI PURNIMA FESTIVAL?

Janai Purnima is one of the religious and cultural festivals celebrated by almost every family of Nepal. According to the Hindu calendar, Janai Purnima falls on the full moon of the month of Shrawan, which puts it in July or August on the Gregorian calendar. This year Janai Purnima occurs on August 15, 2019.

It is a grand day to celebrate the Shaman culture as well. On this day Shamans from all over Nepal meet to do their ancient ritual in sites like the Kumbeshwar in Patan, Gosaikunda in Langtang and Charikot in Dolakha. Likewise, religious fairs take place at numerous temples from early morning at several places including the Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath temples in Kathmandu and the Kumbheshwor temple in Lalitpur. People of diverse cultures observe Janai Purnima with different beliefs but the same highest sincerity.

HOW IS JANAI PURNIMA CELEBRATED?

Janai Purnima is one of the most sacred and important festivals. The festival celebrates the bond of pureness and security. Janai means holy thread and Purnima is the full moon. On this day, some ethnic group performs their annual ritual of changing  Janai .  Janai  is a sacred thread made of cotton worn across the chest they change this sacred thread after taking a bath in the holy river of Bagmati or Vishnumati or nearby rivers.

This thread is only worn by males who have performed a religious ceremony called Bratabandhan.Bratabandhan is a Hindu ceremony which is performed as a symbolic representation that a boy has reached the age of manhood and is ready to follow the rules of following the religion faithfully.  Janai  must be worn every day onwards for their entire life and must not disgrace the religion. In  Janai , there are three cords, which symbolize body, speech, and mind and when the three knots have tied the one who wears is supposed to have gained completed control over each of the symbols.

They take a bath and make their offering to  Saptarishis  (seven legendary rishis or sages) and their departed fathers and ancestors, then  Tagadharis  (Hindu men wearing the  Janai ) put the new  Janai  with a belief of having complete over body, speech, and mind.

Other people who are not wearing  Janai , wears a sacred colorful thread called “ Doro”  around the wrist from Pundits (priest). There is a belief that sacred thread is worn for safety and protection. After some months, that thread is tied in the tail of the cow on the third day of the Tihar festival. This ritual is done for the safe passage to heaven after death. It is believed that after a person dies, he/she would hold on to the tail of the cow as the cow pulls across to the Baitarni River.

On the occasion of Janai Purnima, thousands of devotees visit the Kumbheswar Mahadev temple of Patan, Lalitpur. The temple lies in a complex that includes other structures like Bangalamukhi, Ulmanta Bhairava, and two hiti ponds. There is a popular belief that the water spring that fills the ponds comes all the way from the holy lake of Gosainkunda, which is located at a distance of 43 km north of Kathmandu. Taking a plunge in that pond during Janai Purnima is equivalent to taking a dip in Gosainkunda itself.

Gosainkunda Shaman Festival Trek

Gosainkunda Lake is a popular and sacred lake nestled at an elevation of about 4,380 m in the northeast of Kathmandu surrounded by the almighty Himalayas and other holy lakes like Saraswati Kunda, Ganesh Kunda, Surya Kunda, Bhairav Kunda. The trek to Gosainkunda determines true devotion to Lord Shiva and to be there during the Janai Purnima is regarded as the most auspicious.   

According to the myth, the lake is believed to have formed from excavating the mountain to extract water by Lord Shiva’s Trishul (Trident) in order to quench the burning in his throat after he swallowed poison from the Samundra Manthan. That’s ‘why the water of this lake considered sacred and at the time of Janai Purnima thousands of visitors from Nepal as well as India visit Gosaikunda.

The Gosaikunda area is reflected as a spiritual place and is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Gauri. The huge rock in the middle of the lake is believed to be the remains of a Shiva shrine.  Each year during full moon day in August, thousands of devotees pay a visit to Gosainkunda for blessings. It is said that one who takes a holy dip in the cold, crystal clear water of Gosaikunda Lake purge their sins

Likewise, hundreds of Shamans (“Dhami”) from all over Nepal gather to the lake, to attend on full moon night. Shamans join the festival to boost and renew spiritual power and pray for deceased Shamans. It is believed that performing the ritual and praying to the lakes of Gosainkunda on this auspicious day would receive divine insights.

Also, they perform their unique spiritual dancing and singing ritual followed by drums and sacred rituals which is certainly a sight to see. In this festival, junior Dhami and Jhankri get graduation from the elder Dhami and Jhankri. 

The Gosainkunda Shaman festival Trek is filled with varied array of flora and fauna, blanketed forests of rhododendron, bamboo and oak trees, picturesque villages of varied ethnic groups, enchanted divine glacial lakes, immense mountain panorama, and especially, the myths of Gosaikunda itself, that create exceptional trekking experience and above all, get opportunities to immerse into Nepali traditional festivals . Its a great opportunity for those who have a deep interest in Shaman practice. You will get to interact with Shaman and witness closely the Shaman’s way of deep spiritual practice.

Interested to join Gosainkunda Shaman Festival Trek?

Janai purnima at muktinath.

On the occasion of Janai Purnima pilgrims from the surrounding areas, from the neighboring nation and from within the country gather in Muktinath temple to pay homage to Lord Muktinath. Devotees take a shower under the cold water of 108 waterspouts “ Muktidhara” considering that it brings them salvation. Afterward, everyone takes a plunge in turn in the two ponds in front of the temple and make offerings to Lord Muktinath.

This sacred day also celebrated by the Gurung and Thakali ethnic groups organizing a Yatung mela (fair) on the sites of Muktinath Temple. It is celebrated for consecutive three days with horse races, drinking, and dancing by local Thakali people. Some of the highlights of this fair is a display of local products and horse racing.

During Janai Purnima, the Gurung community residing in the Manang district and the nearby areas have a custom of taking their sisters and daughters to Muktinath for cleansing rituals when they reach the marriageable stage. To make their sister and daughter eligible for marriage, they carry out a special purification ceremony at Muktinath temple of Mustang district.

Witness the unique Yartung Festival in Muktinath

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WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER FESTIVALS OF JANAI PURNIMA?

Raksha bandhan/rakhi.

Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi is another festival of this day celebrated especially in the Terai region of Nepal by Hindu and Jain. This festival is also celebrated throughout India. Raksha Bandhan means “bond of protection,” Raksha means “protection,” and Bandhan means “bond.”

Raksha Bandhan is the festival of brother and sister. On this day, sisters meet her biological brothers, cousins or adopted brother-like friends and tie  rakhi  on her brother’s wrist.  Rakhi  is a colorfully woven bracelet. After  rakhi , brothers and sisters pray together. Then sisters apply  tika  (colorful mark) on brother’s forehead and perform an  aarti  wishing him a long and healthy life. In return, the brothers take promises to protect his sister and take care of her in all the circumstances. They also give gifts and money to sisters as a token of love and feed each other with sweets, fruit, and other delicious foods.

This festival is very important to build a positive relationship between care and affection between brothers and sisters and the entire family as well. Although this festival is between brother and sister, it is celebrated in the presence of whole family members. That is why nowadays this festival is celebrated in most of Nepal.

Kwati Purnima/Gun Punhi

Janai Purnima is also called as Kwati Purnima or Gunhi Punhi. The Newar Community of Nepal mostly celebrates Kwati Purnima. However, nowadays every house celebrates this festival. This day coincides with Shravan Poornima of the month Shravan in the Hindu lunisolar calendar which is celebrated as Janai Purnima.

On this day, a special dish called Kwati is prepared and is consumed as a feast with the rest of the family as a celebration. Kwati is a soup made from a mix of nine different types of sprouted beans. The nine different beans used while making Kwati commonly includes black gram, chickpea, field bean, soybean, green gram, field pea, garden pea, cowpea, and rice bean. The beans are soaked for three to four days in water until the time they sprout. They are cooked with various spices to make a thick soup.

This dish is consumed on the festival of Gun Punhi, the full moon day  Gunla .  Gunla  is the tenth month of the Nepal Era lunar calendar. It is eaten as a delicacy and for health benefits and ritual significance.

Also, in some parts of Nepal, people offer foods like Kwati, rice, and  roti  (flatbread) in a leaf to the frogs by placing them in fields. According to the belief, frog brings the rain and ultimate farmers get to plant the fields with crops. Therefore, this ritual performed on this day.   Gai Jatra  is another festival celebrated on the very next day of Janai Purnima.

Special fair at Swayambhunath

Buddhists celebrate this day in commemoration of the day the Lord Gautam Buddha conquered the evil power of lust. This episode illustrated in the Buddhist scripture ‘Lalitbistar’. On this day, the special fair takes place at Swayambhunath of Kathmandu.

LEGEND BEHIND THE ORIGINS OF THE FESTIVAL

There are several history and myths about the celebration of Raksha Bandhan. Some of them are:

• There is a myth that after Lord Vishnu won all the three world from the demon king Bali. Lord Vishnu granted a wish of Bali to stay with him in his palace, but Lord Vishnu’s wife Goddess Lakshmi did not like the palace. So Goddess Lakshmi went to Bali, ties a rakhi  made him her brother. In return Bali asked what gift she wants, then she asked him to free Vishnu from the request that he lives in Bali’s palace. Bali granted Lakshmi’s wish and accepted her as his sister.  
• According to another legend, in the war between gods and demons. The deity of the sky, rain, and thunderbolts, Lord Indra, was disgraced by the demon King Bali. Then, Lord Indra’s wife Sachi went to Lord Vishnu and asked for his help. Lord Vishnu gave her a holy bracelet made of cotton thread. Sachi tied that holy thread around the wrist of Indra, blessed with her prayers for his victory. Then Lord Indra defeated the demon king Bali. This legend inspired the protective power of the holy thread.
• This legendary narrative relates to India and goes back in a time when Alexander the Great invaded India in 326 BCE. During that time, the wife of Alexander the Great, Roxana sent a sacred thread to Porus, the king of Kaikeya kingdom, asking him not to harm her husband in battle. Kind Porus respected the importance and significance of  rakhi  and wore the  rakhi . In the battle of Hydaspes, King Porus stopped himself from killing Alexander personally when he saw the  rakhi  on his wrist.

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Janaipurnima Festival in Nepal

The Janaipurnima Festival, also known as Janai Purnima or Raksha Bandhan, is a widely celebrated festival in Nepal. This festival, deeply rooted in Hindu culture, is a vibrant manifestation of the country's cultural diversity and spiritual essence. With its origins dating back centuries, the Janaipurnima Festival is a testament to Nepal's rich history and traditions.

The Significance of Janaipurnima

Janaipurnima holds a significant place in the hearts of Nepalese people. It marks a day of renewal and purification as individuals change their sacred threads, or janai, which are worn as symbols of protection and purity. The festival is not only a spiritual event but also a social one, fostering a sense of unity and belonging among communities.

Legends and Myths

The festival's significance is deeply intertwined with Hindu mythology. One popular legend is that of Lord Shiva imparting knowledge to the sages on this auspicious day. Another mythological tale is associated with Lord Vishnu's incarnation as Lord Krishna, who sought protection from the sacred thread worn by his sister, Draupadi.

Rituals and Customs

Sacred Thread Ceremony

The heart of Janaipurnima lies in the sacred thread ceremony, where Brahmin and Chhetri males receive a new janai. The ritual involves changing the thread while reciting sacred verses and mantras. This symbolizes a fresh start and the reaffirmation of one's spiritual commitment.

Worship and Offerings

Homes and temples come alive with offerings of flowers, incense, and oil lamps. Devotees engage in puja (worship) to honor Lord Shiva and seek his blessings for wisdom and purity. This ritualistic aspect enhances the festival's spiritual significance.

Family Reunions

Janaipurnima brings families together as relatives gather to celebrate and perform rituals collectively. This strengthens family bonds and creates a sense of harmony and togetherness.

Celebrations Across Nepal

Kathmandu Valley

In the Kathmandu Valley, the festival resonates with ancient traditions. Pashupatinath Temple becomes a focal point of reverence, with devotees flocking to the sacred site to participate in rituals and seek blessings.

Terai Region

The Terai region sees colorful celebrations with a unique blend of cultural diversity. Communities come together to commemorate the festival, often involving feasts and musical performances.

Hill Regions

In the hilly areas, Janaipurnima takes on a serene ambiance. The festivities here emphasize spiritual growth, with individuals engaging in meditation and self-reflection.

Traditional Cuisines

Nepal's festivals are incomplete without traditional dishes that tantalize the taste buds. During Janaipurnima, the aroma of yomari (a steamed dumpling filled with molasses and sesame seeds), sel roti (a rice-based donut), and kwati (a mixed bean soup) fills the air.

Cultural Significance

Preservation of Tradition

Janaipurnima plays a pivotal role in preserving Nepal's cultural heritage. It keeps age-old customs alive and imparts their significance to the younger generation.

Strengthening Bonds

Beyond its religious aspects, the festival fosters bonds between individuals, families, and communities. It serves as a platform for exchanging love and goodwill.

Spiritual Awakening

Janaipurnima provides a chance for spiritual rejuvenation. The rituals and prayers offer solace and a sense of connection to the divine.

Janaipurnima and Raksha Bandhan

Shared Rituals

Interestingly, the festival shares similarities with Raksha Bandhan, celebrated in various parts of South Asia. Both festivals involve the tying of protective threads as a symbol of care and commitment.

Sibling Bond

The bond between siblings is celebrated during Janaipurnima and Raksha Bandhan alike. Sisters tie rakhi (a protective thread) on their brothers' wrists, signifying their affectionate relationship.

Tourism and Economy Boost

Religious Tourism

Janaipurnima draws tourists from around the world, contributing to Nepal's religious tourism sector. Visitors are captivated by the cultural splendor and spiritual fervor.

Local Businesses

Local markets thrive during the festival, as they offer various items needed for rituals and celebrations. This bolsters the economy and supports small businesses.

Craftsmanship

Artisans and craftsmen play a crucial role in creating the intricate janai and decorative items used during the festival. Their craftsmanship is an integral part of the celebrations.

Cultural Exchange

The festival's allure transcends borders, attracting enthusiasts from different cultural backgrounds. This fosters cross-cultural understanding and friendship.

Impact on Hospitality

Hotels and accommodations witness increased bookings during Janaipurnima, generating revenue and boosting the hospitality sector.

What is Janaipurnima?

Janaipurnima, also known as Janai Purnima or Raksha Bandhan, is a significant Hindu festival celebrated in Nepal. It involves the changing of sacred threads and holds spiritual and social importance.

When is the festival celebrated?

Janaipurnima falls on the full moon day in the month of Shrawan (July/August) in the Nepali calendar.

How do families prepare for the festival?

Families prepare by purchasing new janai, flowers, incense, and other ritual items. They also clean and decorate their homes for the festive occasion.

Are there any modern variations in the celebrations?

While the core rituals remain unchanged, some modern variations, like community gatherings and cultural events, have been integrated to make the festival more inclusive.

What is the legend behind Janaipurnima?

One legend involves Lord Shiva imparting knowledge to sages on this day. Another story centers on Lord Krishna seeking protection from a sacred thread worn by his sister, Draupadi.

Upholding Tradition

Janaipurnima's celebration of customs and rituals keeps the flame of tradition burning brightly, ensuring that Nepal's cultural heritage endures.

Unity in Diversity

The festival's grandeur lies in its ability to unify people from diverse backgrounds under the umbrella of spirituality and festivity.

Spiritual Harmony

As the fragrance of incense wafts through the air and prayers echo, Janaipurnima embodies a harmonious blend of the spiritual and the earthly.

Festivity and Joy

Amidst the rituals and traditions, Janaipurnima exudes an atmosphere of sheer joy and festivity, bringing smiles to young and old alike.

Strengthening Family Bonds

At its core, Janaipurnima emphasizes the importance of family bonds, renewing relationships and creating lasting memories.

Beyond Boundaries

Janaipurnima's appeal transcends geographical boundaries, welcoming people of all faiths to partake in its splendor.

Economic Significance

Beyond its cultural and spiritual dimensions, the festival contributes to the economy, enriching local businesses and the tourism sector.

With enthusiasts from around the world, Janaipurnima serves as a bridge for cultural exchange, fostering global connections.

Future of Janaipurnima

As Nepal embraces modernity, Janaipurnima's core values of tradition, spirituality, and unity remain steadfast, ensuring its continued significance.

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Janai Purnima: The Sacred Thread Festival of Nepal

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Janai Purnima, also referred as the Sacred Thread Festival, is deeply significant to many Hindu followers, particularly in Nepal and parts of India. This auspicious event falls on the full moon day of Shrawan (August), marking a time of renewal and spiritual cleansing. In this blog, we delve into the profound cultural and religious significance of Janai Purnima, exploring the rituals, beliefs, and communal activities that define this cherished festival.

Table of Contents

What is Janai?

At the core of Janai Purnima is the ‘Janai,’ a sacred cotton thread that Hindu males wear across their chests. This thread is not just a simple piece of yarn; it symbolizes spiritual and moral responsibilities bestowed upon a male during the solemn Bratabandhan or Upanayana ceremony, which signals his transition from boyhood to manhood. The Janai is a constant reminder to adhere to the path of truth and righteousness, embodying the unity of body, speech, and mind. It is believed that the thread when tied with knots, grants the wearer control over these aspects of life.

The origins of Janai Purnima

The Legend of Goddess Lakshmi and King Bali

After Lord Vishnu’s victory over the demon king Bali, Goddess Lakshmi tied a rakhi on Bali to make him her brother and free Vishnu from his promise to stay at Bali’s palace. Bali honoured the rakhi and released Vishnu from his obligations.

The Story of Lord Indra

During a battle between gods and demons, Lord Indra was struggling against the demon king Bali. Sachi, Indra’s wife, received a holy cotton thread from Lord Vishnu, which she tied around Indra’s wrist. Empowered by the thread and Sachi’s prayers, Indra defeated Bali, emphasizing the thread’s protective power.

What do people do on Janai Purnima ?

Preparing for the Sacred Day

The preparations for Janai Purnima begin a day before, as those wearing the Janai engage in a series of purification rituals. These include shaving, hair cutting, and bathing to ensure physical and spiritual cleanliness. Following this, participants observe a partial fast, eating only ‘clean’ foods—free from meat, onions, or garlic—adhering to Satvic principles that enhance purity and mental clarity.

Changing the Janai

On the morning of Janai Purnima, men traditionally go to nearby rivers or ponds, immersing themselves three times to cleanse their spirits. This act leads to the ceremonial changing of the Janai, where old threads are replaced with new ones, symbolizing the renewal of vows and spiritual commitments.

What is Rakshya Bandhan Doro (Thread)?

Coinciding with Janai Purnima is Rakshya Bandhan, a festival celebrating the protective bond symbolized by tying a ‘Doro’—a sacred colourful thread—around the wrist. Everyone in the community, regardless of gender, age, status, or caste, participates in this unifying ritual. Men typically wear the Doro on their right wrist, while women tie it on their left. This thread, believed to bring good luck, is worn on the wrist until Laxmi Puja during Deepawali. Afterwards, it is tied to a cow’s tail in a special ceremony, rooted in the belief that the cow will assist the deceased in crossing the river Baitarni to reach heaven.

Rakhi Day: Celebrating Sibling Bonds

A poignant aspect of Janai Purnima is its celebration of sibling bonds through tying a Rakhi. This ritual mirrors the affection and duty between brothers and sisters, with markets bustling with colourful rakhis. This tradition is akin to the Bhai Tika during Tihar, where brothers pledge to protect their sisters, who pray for their brothers’ well-being and prosperity.

Kwati Purnima: A Culinary Delight

The festival, also called Kwati Purnima, is named after ‘Kwati,’ a soup made from nine different beans. This delicious and nutritious dish is a festival staple, with families coming together to share this special meal. The communal feasting on Kwati soup symbolizes unity and the sharing of blessings among loved ones.

Ideal Places to Experience Janai Purnima

Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu

One of Nepal’s most sacred Hindu temples, Pashupatinath, is a hub of activity during Janai Purnima. Devotees from across the country and even India come here to perform rituals and change their Janai along the banks of the holy Bagmati River.

Gosainkunda, Langtang Region

For a more adventurous celebration, Gosainkunda offers a unique experience. This high-altitude lake, considered holy, attracts thousands of pilgrims during Janai Purnima. They trek through the stunning Langtang region to reach it.

Patan Durbar Square, Lalitpur

In the historic city of Patan, celebrations feature a cultural flair, showcasing local music, dances, and communal gatherings. It’s a perfect place for visitors to observe traditional festivities and local crafts.

Janai Purnima seamlessly blends spiritual, familial, and communal elements of Hindu culture into a vibrant celebration. This festival is a time for renewal, purification, and reaffirming faith and family responsibilities, deeply cherished by participants. Exploring this rich tradition reveals that Janai Purnima is more than a religious event—it actively celebrates life’s sacred bonds.

Other Links

• Festivals of Nepal
• Nepal’s Beloved Indra Jatra 2024: Celebrating Divine Rituals & Community Spirit
• Maha Shivaratri in Nepal
• Discover the History of the Pashupatinath Temple
• The Sacred Symbolism of the Swayambhunath Stupa

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• 11 April, 2018

The Janai Purnima Festival, or Rakshya Bandhan

The Hindu, Buddhist and Jain festival of Janai Purnima (also known as Rakhsya Bandhan) takes place on the full moon day of Shrawan. Janai refers to a sacred thread worn by men as they come of age, and purnima means the full moon. During this festival, Buddhists bathe in sacred streams and visit their temples, while Brahman priests offer ornamental threads to tie around the wrists of Hindus and in return receive gifts. The festival observes the bond of purity and security, and is known as the sacred thread festival.

Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most sacred shrines to Shiva, located on the banks of the Bagmati River, the waters offer the same guarantee of release from rebirth as the Ganges. The high-altitude Gosaikunda Lake in Rasuwa District is also very important at this time, and hundreds of pilgrims and shamans make the pilgrimage to take a ritual dip in the icy waters. Water from this lake is believed to flow some 60 km southwest to the Kumbheshwar Temple tank in Patan, thereby making this also another popular venue for this festival.

Gosainkunda Lake. Photo: Drouyn Cambridge/Flickr

The sacred thread is a cotton string that is worn around the neck and across the chest by some Hindu males. It is given during a long religious ceremony called Bratabandhan, which is the formal process of being accepted into the religion, and marks a boy’s coming of age. The thread then has to be worn every day of their lives after this ceremony.  Seen as a symbol of body, speech and mind, when the knots are tied, the person wearing it is supposed to gain complete control over each of these facets of life. The chord is changed if it becomes dishonored by the wearer committing acts forbidden by the religion. Otherwise, it must be changed without fail on Rakhsya Bandhan day.

The day before the festival, men wearing the janai cleanse themselves by shaving or cutting their hair and taking a bath. They only eat one meal of food considered to be ‘clean’ – so no meat, onions or garlic. On the day of the purnima, men typically go to take a bath, dipping themselves in the water three times in a river or pond. They then can break the old thread and replace it.

In the cities, the family priest will come to the home and the whole family will attend as he reads stories from a holy book and performs a ceremony to purify the new thread. This is then placed across the man’s chest. The priest is paid with food and money.

The thread tied around the hand is called doro, though it is often referred to as janai as well. On the day of the festival, men, women and children have a doro (sacred colorful thread) tied around their wrist. Usually men have it tied around their right wrist while women have it around their left wrist. It is believed to bring good luck and it is worn until Laxmi Puja day during Dashain, when it is removed and tied on the tail of a cow on the day of Laxmi Puja. Hindus believe that they have to cross the river Baitarni after death to reach heaven, and the cow will help cross this river by allowing the dead to hang onto her tail, but only if this person has tied their doro to the tail on this day.

As the priest ties the thread around devotees’ wrists, he chants a mantra that declares: “I tie on you (the devotee) the raksha that was tied on Bali, the King of Demons. Therefore Oh Raksha! Do not ever fail to protect this devotee, do not ever fail.” (Bhavishyottara Puran: 137/20)

The Rakhi festival is marked by the tying of a holy thread by a sister on the wrist of a brother and forms the equivalent to Bhai Tika day during Tihar for some communities in Nepal. In return, the brother offers a gift to his sister and swears to look after her, as she presents sweets to him.

Newars celebrate this festival by cooking a special soup of different kinds of beans, called Kwati. Newar farmers also offer food items to frogs, as they believe that the frog is an agent of the god of rainfall, and making offerings helps increase the crops.

There are many legends behind the origins of the festival.  Lord Ganesh had two sons, Shubh and Labh, and one day (on Rakshya Bandhan), Ganesh’s sister visited and tied a rakhi on Ganesh’s wrist. Jealous, the sons immediately began to demand Ganesh and his two wives, Riddhi and Siddhi, give them a sister. Ganesh agreed, and Santoshi Ma (Mother Goddess of Satisfaction) was created by the divine flames that emerged from Riddhi and Siddhi.

Another story from the epic Mahabharata tells how Draupadi, wife of the Pandavas, tore a strip of silk off from her sari to tie around Krishna’s wrist, to stop the bleeding from a battle wound. Krishna was touched by her action and declared her to be his sister, even though they were unrelated. He promised to repay the debt, and spent the following 25 years doing just that. Although married to five great warriors and being a daughter of a powerful monarch, Draupadi trusted Krishna completely. He repaid the debt of love during the Cheer-Haran (literally, “clothing-robbing”) of Draupadi, which occurred in the assembly of King Dhritarastra, when the Pandavas lost her to the Kauravas in gambling. Krishna extended her sari through divine intervention so it could not be removed, to save her honor.

According to legend, the Demon King Bali was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu, who had left his own home in Vaikunth to go and guard his kingdom. The Goddess Lakshmi wished to be with her lord back in her home, so she went to Bali disguised as a woman, to seek refuge till her husband came back. During the Shravan Purnima celebrations, Lakshmi tied the sacred thread onto the King. On being asked, she revealed who she was and why she was there. The king was touched by her goodwill for his family and her purpose, and requested the Lord to accompany her.

According to another legend, Rakshya Bandhan was a ritual followed by Lord Yama (the Lord of Death) and his sister, Yamuna. She tied a rakhi on Yama that bestowed immortality, and he was so moved by the occasion that he declared that whoever gets a rakhi tied by his sister and a promise of her protection, would become immortal.

Would you like to see this festival is celebrated? Have a look at what Royal Mountain Travel can offer in its Janai Purnima and Gai Jatra Festivals Tour

Inspired by tours where you can see festivals like this? Have a look at festival tours offered by  Royal Mountain Travel :

Mustang Tiji Festival

Haritalika Teej & Rishi Panchami Festival Tour

Bijaya Dashami Festival (Dashain) Tour

Bisket Jatra Festival Tour

Ram Navami Festival in Janakpur Tour

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Tags: Buddhist festival festivals Hindu festival Rakhsya Bandhan

• 13 April 2018 | 07:18

Marianne, thank you for your blog post.Really thank you! Awesome.

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Festival of Binding Sacred Thread in Nepal – Janai Purnima

Festival Janai purnima or kwati purne is a festival in Nepal at the beginning of the autumn trekking season in Nepal – plan your holiday to include this fascinating spectacle of Nepali culture and tradition.

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Introduction of Festival Janai Purnima

“Binding Sacred Thread” (or, as locals call it; Janai Purnima, Rakshyabandan, Kwati Purnima or Rakhi) is a Hindu festival , which happens once a year. This is the festival is for the male to change the sacred thread in a special ritual in the Shiva temples, all around the world.

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The sacred thread called janai is worn by Hindu males. All the males are allowed to wear those sacred threads over neck around the arm, after their baptism.

Picture : Pashupatinath is a Shiva’s Temple at Kathmandu. Thousands of people come here on this special day of Janaipurnima celebration to change the sacred thread and pay homage to god shiva. Pashupatinath is also known as Cremation temple in Kathmandu. The smoke is coming out from the ongoing cremation near the river side of the Temple. This Hindu temple is a hub for many festivals happening in Kathmandu, mostly celebrated by Hindus.

Where to go?

On the occasion of Janaipurnima festival in Nepal, trekking to Lake of Gosainkunda can be crowded. This is in late August – not with tourists but with pilgrims, who trek towards the holy lake of Gosainkunda to change the string. As a trekker and nature & culture lover this Nepal festival will best to trek to some of the lake trek destination in Nepal as follow:

• Gosaikunda lake trek
• Numbur cheese circuit trek
• Panchpokhari trek
• Jattapokhari trek
• Dudhkunda trek

Generally, Hindu males wear the sacred thread all the time whereas other ethnic groups might have the sacred thread to wear during baptism ceremony but don’t always wear it. This festival is common among both Hindus and Buddhists and they each have their own religious beliefs for the festival.

Picture: the holy lake of  Jattapokhari in Numbur cheese circuit trekking trail in lower Everest trekking region: a sacred place for Buddhists and Hindus, the festival is observed here as well.

What do people do on this day?

On this Nepali festival, people go to the temple of the god Shiva, or the holy lakes of Lord Shiva; Gosainkunda in Langtang region & Jattapokhari in Numbur region respectively.

Numbur and Kumbheshwor valleys are famous for the holy lakes. Locals and many Indians observe the festival and trek to these lakes to pay homage to their deity.

Picture: Panchpokhari, a section, lies at Numbur Cheese Circuit on lower Everest Region

On the same day people from Terai strengthen their brother-sister relationship by tying a thread around the wrist. People in Terai call this day Rakhi where brothers give gifts to their sisters and sisters feed their brothers with delicious food and chocolate.

Sisters also bind a thread around their brother’s wrist, symbolizing and strengthening their love and affection.

What do people eat on this day?

In this Nepali festival the kitchens in Kathmandu valley emit the pleasant aroma of Kwati. Cooked with 9 different types of beans, this hot soup is famous among the Newar Tribe from Bhaktapur, Patan and Kirtipur.

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The beans are soaked overnight for proper seasoning before being cooked under pressure and served in a bowl.

Kwati soup is rich in vitamins, protein and calcium, according to scientific research. Kwati soup was first brewed by the Newar community from Kathmandu Valley .

What is sacred thread?

There are multiple kinds of threads: threads for the wrists, for the neck, and threads offered by a sister to a brother like Rakhi.

Tying a sacred thread around the wrist is common among all cultures here; it is believed that the thread wards off danger in one’s life.

During another Nepali festival (Tihar), on the specific day of worshipping the cow, people tie sacred thread around the cow’s ankle or tail. In Hindu mythology, people face different stages of life even after death; so doing this makes much easier passage to heaven.

Janai, another type of sacred thread is tied around the neck diagonal to chest of a Brahmin & Chhetri man. Men who wear this string know a secret mantra. This secret mantra is known only to those who wear the thread, which is a 3-line mantra to be repeated 5 or 7 times every morning while washing the face and worshiping the janai.

Janai string is believed to have three main Hindu gods – Bhrama, Bishnu and Maheshwora.

If you are trekking in Nepal, ask your guide to show his sacred thread; if he shows the janai that means he is a Brahmin or Chhetri.

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Where to go for Celebration spot on Janai Purnima?

On late august the festival is observed at Lake Gosainkunda in Langtang, Lake Phoksundo near Dolpo, and Lake Panchpokhari near Helambu, Lake jattapokhari at Numbur, Dudh kunda lake, Damodar kunda lake, Muktinath temple and in many other Shiva temples.

Thousands of people trek to these lakes dedicated to the god Shiva and millions of people worship their respective beliefs in the Shiva temple during Janaipurnima festival in Nepal.

This day is also famous as the day to renew the knowledge of Jhakri or shamans (witch doctors in Nepal). These Shamans travel from their villages to these lakes and dance with their spiritual mantra and style, their dance is interesting and the way they dress is amazing.

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About author.

I grew up in the mountains & got university education in Kathmandu to become an engineer. But with homely environment of mountains interest me to become a trekking & tour guide, by passion. I have been 6574 meter to the highest & fortunately got chance to explore most of Nepal and bit of abroad.

Eventually, passion converted to profession and here i am on behalf of Nepalgram - a Trekking agency in Nepal.

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Janai Purnima festival | How it is celebrated in Nepal

Janai Purnima observed in Shrawan Shukla Purnima (Full Moon day),  is the Hindu festival, celebrated by renewing the old Janai (Cotton string, wear by Hindu men across the chest), eating the soup of Kwati or sprout lentils, and tightening the strong bond between Brothers and Sisters and Mama and Bhanja.

How Janai Purnima is Celebrated in Nepal

The one who wears Janai across their chest is called “Taghadharis”. These people on the very morning, take the holy bath and replace the old Janai with the new one given by the priest. In the maximum district of Nepal, instead of a priest, they take the Janai from their Mama. So, this festival also makes the bonding of Mama and Bhanja.

On this day, people also tie the sacred Doro(thread) in their wrist which of a different color. According to the Hindu belief, rounding the thread by 7 times and wearing it on the right hand purifies the soul and protects the body from evil. Also, eating the mixture of nine different pulses called Kwati (Sprout) on occasion prevents you from Cold cough, makes your body warm.

In the maximum places especially in the terai region of Nepal, this day is also celebrated as the day of Raksha Bandhan, where sisters pray the healthy and wealthy lifestyle of their brothers by placing the small love of token in their hands.

This sacred thread festival is celebrated all over the country, especially the Brahmins and Chettris treat this festival as one of the important days in the entire year. On the occasion of Janai Purnima, the pilgrims try their best reaching the Paanchpokhari of Sindhupalchok district or Gosainkunda of Rasuwa district . There used to be an annual fair in this place.

Historical Myth Behind the Celebration of Janai Purnima, Raksha Bandhan and tieing sacred thread in the wrist.

It is believed that, when Lord  Vishnu defeated Demon King Bali, he access him to stay along with him in his palace. But, Lord Vishnu’s wife Goddess Lakshmi is against his decision. So, once Goddes Lakshmi went to the place of Demon Bali and tie the rakhi in his hand and in return ask him not to accept the offer of Vishnu. So, from this day Goddess Lakshmi and Demo Bali become the brother and sister. and started celebrated Raksha Bandhan on this day. Another Myth came during the battle of Alexander the Great and King Porus (King of Kaikeya Kingdom). In this battle, the wife of Alexander the Great sends the present as Rakhi to King Porus so that he will not harm her wife and wears it in his hand. While they are in the battle, King Porus stops killing Alexander the Great by looking at the rakhi that his wife sends to him. Once Lord Vishnu gave a holy bracelet that is made up of cotton and holds the blessing of Lord Vishnu to Lord Indra’s wife Sachi. And She tied this bracelet in the hand of Indra, after which Indra defeated the demon king Bali. This is the historical myth on tieing the sacred thread in your hand on this day.

So, this is all about the Janai Purnima a sacred holy festival celebrated by the Hindus of Nepal. Since Nepal is a multi-ethnic country, not only Hindus other religions such as Buddhists, Christian also celebrate this festival in their own way.

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Janai Purnima

31st august, trek to holy gosainkunda this janai purnima to observe unique & ancient shaman customs..

Janai Purnima is a Hindu festival celebrated all over the country, with family get togethers and feasts of Kwati or sprout lentils. This day is also a harbinger of rejuvenation with Hindu men renewing their ‪Janai and people flocking to Shiva temples in different parts of the country. It is a big day to observe the Shaman culture.

On this day Shamans of the valley and around Nepal gather to perform their ancient rites in places like the Kumbeshwar in Patan, Gosaikunda in Langtang and Charikot in Dolakha. International counterparts trained by Nepali Shamans also make it a point to visit their sacred sites on this occasion.

This full moon day sees a large number of Brahmins at the holy riverbanks. They take ritual dips in the water and offer ablution to the gods. They then change their sacred threads. Brahman priests tie yellow sacred threads around the wrists of the faithful.

Newars of Kathmandu Valley call this festival Gunhi Punhi and they prepare a soup of a mixture of beans called Kwati as special food for the day. Kwati is a nutritious soup made from sprouted beans.

At Kumbheswar in Patan, a richly decorated Lingam, the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva, is placed on a raised platform in the middle of the Kumbheswar pond to receive homage from devotees. Another ceremony that takes place here is Byan-ja Nakegu, during which rice is offered to frogs in gratitude for a good spell of rain.

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Janai Purnima

Janai Purnima is one of the important festival celebrated throughout Nepal by Hindus. Janai means Yajnopavit thread and Purnima means Full moon. It falls on Shrawan Sukla Purnima that is in the month Shrawan-Bhadra(July-August). This day is also celebrated as Rakchya Bandhan. Rakchya means security and Bandhan mean bondage. The thread is bondage, a bond of holiness and security. According to Hindu tradition, Brahmins and Kshatriya men change their Yajnopavit, i.e. Janai. After chanting the Gayatri mantra in the ears without being heard by others the Guru-Purohit perform the ritual called bratabandha karma after childhood. Mantra narrates to follow the path of faithful religion and truth.

This full moon day sees a large number of Brahmins at the holy riverbanks. They take ritual dips in the water and offer ablution to the gods. They then change their sacred threads (Janai). Brahman priests tie yellow-red sacred threads around the wrists of the faithful on this day

Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most sacred shrines to Shiva, located on the banks of the Bagmati River, the waters offer the same guarantee of release from rebirth as the Ganges. The high-altitude Gosaikunda Lake in Rasuwa District is also very important at this time, and hundreds of pilgrims and shamans make the pilgrimage to take a ritual dip in the icy waters. Water from this lake is believed to flow some 60 km southwest to the Kumbheshwar Temple tank in Patan, thereby making this also another popular venue for this festival.

Kwati and Janai Purnima

This day is also popular for eating Kwati. Kwati means sprout lentils. But In the Nepal Bhasa or Newari language, Kwati literally means ‘Kwa:’ which means hot dish. ‘Ti’ means liquid. Therefore, “Kwati” means hot dish. So in the Newari Society in this day Hot soup is prepared and taken. For making Kwati 9 types of lentils are soaked in water two days ago. When sprouts grow in mixture prepared by mixing lentils, it is called Kwati. There is a belief that if you eat Kwati, you will get rid of various diseases related to digestion. A special type of Kwanti eaten by the Newar community is called “nwangi”.

On this day, sisters tie colorful threads and flowers on the right wrists of their brothers and sisters to wish them longevity and success. Rakhi is very popular in the Tarai region of Nepal, India, Bangladesh and other countries and the importance of this festival is very high.

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Janai: The story of ‘the sacred thread’ of some Hindu men

Almost all Hindus across Nepal celebrate the Janai Purnima, one of the key festivals of the Nepali calendar , on the full moon day of Shrawan every year, yet many of them do not know the essence of ‘janai’, the sacred thread that gave the festival its name.

So, here we have a detail of what a janai is and why it is important in the Hindu culture.

What is a janai?

Janai, often translated as a sacred thread, is a thread that has a high religious and cultural significance among Hindu boys and men.

According to religious texts and people who have studied it, men from Bramhin, Kshetriya and Vaishya varna (hierarchical group) receive the honour of wearing a janai during a ritual called Bratabandha (Upanayana).

Rishi Ram Pokharel, a noted Sanskrit literature scholar of the country, says this thread is normally worn diagonally, from the left shoulder to the right waist, crossing the chest. In Sanskirt, this thread is called ‘yagyopabita’. Professor Pokharel explains, “Yagya refers to any kind of worship, offering, devotion, or oblation. And, ‘Upabita’ means something that has to be worn while performing yagyas. Such a thread that is made holy by chanting Vedic mantras.” It is believed that these mantras established several Hindu gods and goddesses in the threads.

As per Pokharel, in the Satya Yug and Treta Yug, the janai used to be of gold and during the Dwapar Yug, it used to be of silver. Coming to the final Kali Yug, it is now made up of cotton. The thread for a Brahmin consists of six thinner strands whereas, for Kshetriyas, it is three. However, some add three additional strands as a substitute to the uttariya, an upper garment, that is considered mandatory for Hindu men while performing any yagyas.

Why is it worn?

It is believed that after adorning a janai, all the gods and goddesses enter and stay in their body, mind, and soul and make their life holy and meaningful.

As the sacred thread is given to them during the Bratabandha, it constantly reminds the wearer that they are bounded by some vows and rules, making sure that they always follow their conduct and lessons taught by their gurus.

It is also believed that this thread grants the bearer knowledge, power, prosperity, and wisdom. Hence, he is always expected to be dutiful, loyal, respectful, truthful and disciplined.

Not only this but it is also said the janai grants the motivation to the wearer to perform good deeds and to be in pure character. Wearing this thread is believed to grant longevity and conspicuousness. Likewise, it is also believed that adoring this will protect the holder against negative thoughts and energy throughout his life.

Pokharel explains whereas a janai has three, six or nine strands (as described above), a strand has the three smallest units, let’s say fibres. Therefore, a basic unit of the sacred thread has nine fibres. “In every fibre, there lie all Hindu deities.  Omkar symbolises all the gods and goddesses and the divine power in the first, Agni (the Fire God) in the second, Naag (the Serpent God) also considered the preserver of water resources in the third, Soma (the Moon) considered as of flora in the fourth, Pitri (forefathers) who are the guides and protectors in the fifth, Prajapati referring to the creator of the world in the sixth, Vayu or Maruta (the Air God) in the seventh, Surya (the Sun) in the eighth, and Vishwadev in the ninth fibre,” Pokharel says, “Therefore, there is a religious belief that these gods and goddesses living in the purified janai bestow the wearer the power and strength that lies within the gods.”

“Also, each of the three fibres is threefold and made one strand that counts the total of three strands, symbolising the holy Trimurti: Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver) and Maheshwar (the destroyer).” Some even consider these three strands to be symbolic of body, speech, and mind, and believe the one who adorns this holy thread gains complete control over their body, speech, and mind.

It is not only the Janai Purnima when the wearers change their janai. In the Hindu scriptures, it is mentioned that the thread should be changed in the interval of four months, before doing any yagya, or after the completion of an ‘impure’ period caused by birth or death in the close family.

In the scared Smriti (Puranas), Brahma is credited for the creation of this thread; that is why it got its other name, called Brahmasutra, according to Pokharel.

Exclusive to high-caste men?

Though the practice of wearing a janai is limited to Brahmins, Kshetriyas, and Vaishyas today, an expert on religion and culture, Basudev Krishna Shastri, briefs, “Everyone, including all the men and women, has the right to this. Only after adorning the janai, one is considered eligible to perform all 16 rites of human life (sanskars).”

He claims all people including men and women of all castes had the tradition of wearing a janai in the past. To justify, Shastri explains, “Till date, while performing any yagyas or pujas be it Durga Puja or Swasthani Puja or Laxmi Puja, we (Hindu) offer yagyopabita (the same thread) to the goddesses as well. Symbolically offering a janai to the female deities during a yagya connotes that they adorn this.”

Narrating one of the sections of a Hindi book, Vedic Vangmay Mein Nari (meaning Women in Vedic Literature) by Dr Sushma Shukla, Shastri briefs, “In the Sutra Sahitya (Sutra Literature), Griha Sutra  (text that includes information regarding Vedic domestic rituals) and in other scriptures as well, it is mentioned that a wife should wear this thread while performing any yagyas. Also, it reads those women who adorn a yagyopabita are reverent and beautiful.” For him, potey that modern women wear is also a symbol of the janai.

Later, this practice faded away coming to today’s world as people found it very tough to be in a strict discipline that one has to follow after wearing a janai, Shastri claims.

Gradually, people nowadays even Brahmin and Kshetriya men stopped adorning the janai as one is bounded by vows and rules after wearing it and people find it very difficult and impractical to do so.

Originally published on August 3, 2020

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Budhathoki was a correspondent at Onlinekhabar from February 2020 to February 2022.

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Janai Purnima

"one of the major Nepali festival"

Janai Purnima is one of the major festivals in Nepal. The Nepali people celebrate the festival in different forms throughout the country. The festival falls on the full moon day of the Shrawan month according to the Hindu Lunar Calendar. The Hindus, especially of the Shaiva sect, celebrate the full moon day in the Nepali month of Shrawan (which normally falls in August). The valley people – Newar community popularly call it ‘Gunhi Punhi’ . The festival is also famous as ‘Kwanti Purnima’.

Celebration of Janai Purnima

Janai – yagyopabita.

As a tradition, the men from Tagadhari communities go fasting on the day before Janai Purnima. They shave their heads and have a single vegetarian meal during the day. The Tagadharis are those who wear the sacred thread around their bodies from the left shoulder down to the right shoulder. Next, on the day of Janai Purnima, early in the morning, people visit the nearby temples. The men from Nepali Tagadhari communities change the sacred thread on the occasion of ‘Janai Purnima’. Religiously, Janai, the Yogyopabita has a high significance. It is essential while performing any type of cultural and religious activity. The Janai thread is called Yogyopabita because it purifies oneself to attend sacred functions like Yagya and Hawan.

Janai is a sacred thread in Hindu Culture. ‘Rishi Tarpani’ is another name for Janai Purnima. According to the time-honored tradition, the people receive the ‘Rakshya Bandhan’ thread, which is tied around the wrist as an amulet. The yellow thread is purified through the chanting of mantras by Brahmin priests as a symbol of protection from fear and disease.

Additionally, people in and around the Kathmandu Valley celebrate the festival as Kwanti Purnima. We mix several different beans and soak them in water for a day. The mix contains at least 9 different types of beans. The water is drained and let sprout for at least 3-4 nights. Every household cooks such beans with tiny sprouts by adding different species to make a delicious soup called Kwanten. According to the ‘Kulabarna Tantra’ which is a Tantrik scripture, the soup is highly nutritious and keeps diseases away. Nowadays, soup is also used as a special delicacy on the Nepali menu.

Visiting the Shiva Place

The sacred ponds in the mountain ranges are the main places to visit on Janai Purnima. Gosainkunda Lake is one of the most popular places to celebrate Janai Purnima. Devotees pick a festival to visit during the 5 Days Short Gosaikunda Trek . A large number of people from all over the world come here to celebrate Janai Purnima. Many cultural photographers consider it to be the greatest time for shooting. On this day, people from all across the country flock to Gosaikunda Lake. They make the long trek from their home to Gosaikunda to commemorate the occasion. On the day of Janai Purnima, people worship Lord Shiva. According to legend, Lord Shiva rests in Gosaikunda after consuming the poison ‘Kalakut’ . There is a belief that Lord Shiva rests at Gosaikunda after consuming the venom ‘Kalakut’ extracted from Samundra Manthan.

Similarly, the other places of Lord Shiva also equally receive thousands of visitors on the day. The Panch Pokhari Bhairab Kunda, Dudh Kunda, and Badi Malika of western Nepal are the major pilgrimage of the day. Tens of thousands of people visit the religious sites of Kathmandu. The Shiva’s places are the special attraction of the occasion. The Kumbheshwor and Pashupatinath temples Budanilkantha are the major places receiving the maximum number of visitors on the day of Janai Purnima.

Janai Purnima as Rakshya Bandhan

The lower plains of Nepal celebrate the Janaipurnima festival as Rakhi . It is a festival to strengthen the brother and sisterhood among the siblings. The sisters tie an attractive ‘Rakhi’ around the wrists of their brothers wishing them good health, safety, long life, and prosperity. The brothers do the same for their sister. The festival is getting its popularity in other parts of the nation.

Today, thousands of devotees worship Lord Shiva at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu and Kumbheswor in Lalitpur and take holy dips in ponds and lakes located in the high hills of the country. Several ponds like Gosainkunda, Dudhkunda, and Bhairabkunda receive thousands of pilgrimages on the occasion.

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Massage away your stress, dambar kumari and a fabric that transcended boundaries, gokarna forest resort the royal hunting ground, coffee cascara extra income for coffee farmers, some lesser-known vegetable dishes from the southern plains, son of a brahmin and wearer of janai: the sacred thread.

A janai is comprised of loose, hand-woven cotton threads braided together and held together by a knot. The common English term ‘sacred thread’ is because threads are all it is, and sacred because it is worn after an elaborate investiture ceremony with archaic rituals typical to Hinduism. “So much fuss over a bunch of threads?” one, unfamiliar to this tradition may wonder. But ask a reasonably modern Brahmin lad what this fuss is all about and his tales will leave you baffled. 

“The first thing my mother does after I return home after a long absence is slip her hand through my T-shirt collar and feel the thread,” says one young adult Brahmin. “More often than not she ends up disappointed.”

“What did you do to the janai?” she asks him in that chastising tone that tells him it is going to be more than mere interrogation. She does not even hesitate to put a question mark on his very origin. “Have you forgotten that you are a son of a Brahmin!” Then his mother takes him to task. Without wasting a minute, she sifts through some plastic bags kept in a corner of the prayer room and pulls out a bundle of threads. “Do whatever you want when you are away, but at home you have to wear it,” she says as she thrusts the sacred thread at him.      “I am scared of the sacred thread,” he mutters in a slow voice. She looks at him aghast. “How funny? What is there to be scared about wearing a janai?” “Oh! Is there only one thing?” he retorts. “A thousand things worry me if I wear it. The mantra, the rituals, the taboos, you name it,” he says, trying to assert himself. She does not relent. “What with the mantra, rituals and taboos? You don’t spend even five minutes in the morning for the mantras. And rituals? You are a son of a  Brahmin and you have to follow them. And why do taboos scare you? Because you cannot eat chicken, pork or alcohol?” she says. Sons of Brahmins are forbidden from eating meat, except goat, and drinking alcohol is intolerable by all standards. Some of the most pious Brahmins do not eat foods that have onions or garlic in them and many will have never tasted mushroom. After wearing janai, of course, the Brahmin lads fall under more stringent obligations. The young man is a teetotaler and a vegetarian, so the taboos are certainly not the issue. “My problem,” he says, “is my faith.”

“I totally believe in the sacredness and inviolability of the sacred thread. But, my work takes me places and I often visit places hostile to the practices associated with the symbolism of the sacred thread, the janai. And all too often doing nearly anything can easily breach the taboos and violate the thread’s sanctity.”  “Wearing the thread, you have to be careful about what you eat and where,” he says, hinting at the taboos associated with caste. “I often travel to remote locations where food is cooked and served neither appropriately, nor by appropriate people.” (There are some people from whom, by ageless tradition, Brahmins are not supposed to take cooked food.) “In such places,” he goes on, “I find spinach, cabbage and cauliflower being cooked in the same pot used for cooking pork and chicken, and where water and tea are served in the same glass in which alcohol has been served. Do I have a choice? Faced with such situations, I have had to make ‘difficult choices’ several times.”

“My father wouldn’t let me in if he found that I came home after drinking alcohol or eating pork,” he says. “So each time I am forced by circumstance to transgress the edicts set for a janai wearer, I suffer pangs of repentance. After all, I am the son of a Brahmin.” To placate this overwhelming sense of fear of the sacred thread, he has made it a point to seek opinions of other Brahmins when he finds them at places inappropriate for strict Brahmins. “What? You repent over such a trifle matter?” one of them told asked. “It is simple. Once you are away from home, hold back on the rituals and shake off the stigmas brought on by the breach of the edicts of the sacred thread. Look at me. I eat to my heart’s content and never ever feel even a trace of guilt.” The young man looked at him disgustingly and said, “What sort of Brahmin do you think you are? Don’t you fear the wrath of…”

A Brahmin boy after completion of his janai investiture ceremony

“Wrath of...? Whose wrath? What wrath?” his friend cut him short.

“Wrath of...” – he fumbled for a few seconds trying to find the scariest of the gods; but all he managed to say was “...of some god, some heavenly force. I don’t know. But aren’t we supposed to be scared of somebody when we do something wrong?” “Don’t you know that our is the slackest of all religions?” the other Brahmin replied slyly. “Why, there is always some way or another to absolve you of sin. If you happen to eat or drink or for that matter even touch anything that is against the precepts of the janai, all you have to do is keep a bottle of water from the sacred Ganges river and whenever you are at home you sprinkle a few drops over yourself and you are the same pure Brahmin again.” He also suggested an alternative. “In case you don’t have water from the Ganges,” he said, “fill a glass with water and touch it to gold – an ear ring, a necklace, a bracelet, anything and then sprinkle the water over you. That works, too.”      Another Brahmin on another occasion told him that he never bothered about sprinkling water. “Who knows whether we have Ganga water at home or not? And I don’t want to raise suspicion or fuss over what I ate or drank or touched while I am away by asking for something made out of gold,” he said. “So what do you do then? Don’t you have any fear?”.  “Indeed,” this other Brahmin countered, “we need to fear the... whatever. But what if we aren’t doing anything wrong?” Perplexed and somewhat irritated by the casual manner in which the fellow Brahmins treated the meaning of sacred thread, the young man hastened to ask in reply: “But, how is that possible after eating and drinking and touching these things?” The other Brahmin pulled up his backpack and opened one of the front pockets, thrust his hand inside and pulled out a thread and began to explain. “You see, when travelling away from home and knowing that I am not going to live with my Brahmin relatives or friend, I make it a point to take my janai off and keep it in my bag. When it is time to return home I wear it again. I don’t know if by not wearing the thread I’ll be raising the wrath of any god or not, but I certainly do not want to upset my mother.”   There are several other sons of Brahmin who are at odds with the peculiar customs of the sacred thread. “When I was first invested with the janai by a priest amidst a huge function, I was probably 16 years old,” recalls yet another of his friends. “That’s late by today’s standard, when I see young boys less than eight wearing theirs.” To him the janai signified an attainment of some degree of maturity, and he thought he was being elevated to the exclusive club of the ‘grown ups’. “But when I saw the kids sporting it who were still being fed by their mothers, I realized it was a serious misinterpretation on my part.” Prescribed ages for wearing a sacred thread are between eight and 16 year for a Brahmin (priestly caste), 11 and 22 year for a Kshatriya (Chhetri, the warrior caste), and between 12 and 25 year for a Vaishya (business caste). In all cases it has to be invested before marriage. If a person crosses the age limit he becomes a vratya. Then, he can be ordained only after many days of fasting, worship and drinking water laced with molten gold. The custom of vratya is already obsolete; therefore, these days even the vratyas get the sacred thread without observing a penance. Some are ordained just a few hours before their marriage, where it is not uncommon to hear people saying: “Takla beulo ta naramro dekhinerachha” – “Shaven-headed grooms don’t look good.” Shaving head or mundan is the very first thing to be done on the day of the sacred thread ceremony. “Many youngsters, including me, do not like mundan,” says one young Brahmin. “A bald head with only the tupee (the tuft of hair at the back of the head, at the crown) dangling at the back makes you look funny. Nobody finds it cool.” Mundan, according to priests, is done for repentance and purity and the tupee signifies wisdom, as all knowledge is accumulated near the crown of the head. “Then there’s the mantra,” he goes on with a palpable sense of exasperation. After being invested with the janai, each morning one has to hold it with his right hand and draw it close to a flowing water tap, or make a small cup of his palm enough to hold water to soak the thread, and then recite this mantra: “Om bhurbhuwashwaha tatsabiturvarenyum; bhargodevashyadhimahi dhiyoyonaha prachodayata”, which loosely translated is “Oh Sun god, may by meditating about your supreme sin-destroying light we obtain the adorable splendor that will guide our intellect in the right direction”.

A janai wearer is introduced to the mantra by the priest who conducts the sacred thread ceremony. “When my priest whispered it in my ear and asked me to repeat it, I flatly refused,” the same young Brahmin laments. “Honestly, I couldn’t make out what he was blabbering. I asked him to repeat it, instead. When he did, I said ‘One more time please’. But there was noise all around and all I heard was his whispering – ‘Pst pst pst pst. Pst pst pst pst.’” The sacred mantra is called a gayatri mantra and tradition forbids reciting it aloud in front of females or those who aren’t worthy (so-called ‘low caste’ people). The youngster failed to catch anything and found it impossible to repeat. “There were ten other kids waiting,” he recalls. “And, sensing trouble, the priest declared that he would write it out for each of us and we could learn to recite the mantra, in Sanskrit, from our fathers, all of whom were, of course, veteran janai wearers.” “Another reason for my refusal,” he goes on, “was the fear of making a silly mistake that might infuriate the priest.” And what if the god on whose name the mantra is recited became annoyed and came down on him with full wrath, he thought. “I told myself first I’ll learn it by heart and understand the proper pronunciation of each words of this brainy and mouth-twisting archaic language.”   He says it was only after a week that he could recite the mantra without the fear of raising the wrath of Surya, the Sun God, for he  had learned that his mantra praises the virtues of the rays of the sun. “I was curious how younger boys were faring,” he says. “I got hold of one of them after a week or so and asked, how his jap (reciting of mantra in Sanskrit) was going? The boy pulled up his T-shirt to show his bare chest and said, ‘Great! I stopped it a long time ago’.” 

A Brahmin priest performing janai-changing ceremony during Janai Purnima  

Another thing that bothered him was the practice of tucking the thread around the ear while defecating. “Though I followed this ritual for a long time I had no clue why this was done,” he says. “One day I cornered one of the fellows who was ordained with us. I asked him why it was done. ‘Oh! Stupid,’ he said, with a know-it-all attitude. ‘You do that because you don’t want the thread to touch the holy mess that you create under your arse’.” His reasoning was difficult to accept, but for Indian style defecating, equally hard to debunk. In want of a better version, I hold on to this logic.  There are some serious symbolisms assigned to the sacred thread. Hindu tradition considers any kind of oblation, rites and rituals performed by a  Brahmin who is not wearing a janai to be incomplete, in the sense that it cannot yield the highest attainment. If the son entitled to perform the last rite of his parents cannot be ordained to the sacred thread for some reason, the tradition is to make him wear a janai made up of kush (a type of grass) and then let him light the pyre. For example, when the late Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, a Hindu, was killed in a bomb blast in 1990, there was a great confusion over the conducting of his last rites. Since Rajiv’s father, Feroze (Khan) Gandhi, was a Muslim, the Muslims wanted Rajiv to be buried; whereas the Hindus wanted him to be cremated. Finally, the majority Hindus won and it was decided that Rajiv would be cremated following Hindu tradition. The problem was that Rahul Gandhi, Rajiv’s only son, did not have a janai because he was never ordained. According to Hindu tradition, the son who performs the antyeshti, last rites, must have one. As the whole world watched on television, Rahul was ordained to janai, right next to his father’s pyre, before he could set it afire. The sanctity and symbolic importance of the janai pervades every aspect of the life of a Hindu, particularly the son of a Brahmin. While in the past they couldn’t start their formal education without it, even today they cannot marry or perform important rites without it. Now, isn’t there enough sacred symbolism here for the son of a Brahmin to seriously fear the sacred thread? 

Amendra Pokharel, a Brahmin, is a freelance writer and can be contacted at [email protected]

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Raksha Bandhan, Rishi Tarpani, Janai Purnima 2020: Importance And Significance

New spotlight online.

Janai Purnima is Hindu festival celebrated by almost every family of Nepal. However, different communities have their own way to celebrate. According to Nepali Calendar, this festival falls on the full moon day of Shrawan or Bhadra month. This year it falls on August 3.

On this day Shamans of the valley and around Nepal gather to perform their ancient rites in places like the Kumbeshwar in Patan, Gosaikunda in Langtang and Charikot in Dolakha.

On the occasion, ‘Tagadhari Hindus’ change the Janai — the sacred thread– after having their hair shaved and taking holy dips in ponds and rivers. The Hindus also receive Raksha Bandhan – thread around wrist — from priests. According to the widespread belief, the Raksha Bandhan is purified by mantras from Vedas and thus is regarded as a symbol of protection.

The festival is also known as Shrawani Purnima, Kwati Purnima, Rishi Purnima and Rakshya Bandhan.

In the Valley, devotees worship Lord Shiva at Pashupatinath and Kumbheswor in Lalitpur. Religious fairs are also held in Gosaikunda in Rasuwa, Triveni in Jumla, among others Hindu shrines. People living in the Tarai region, celebrate this day as the Rakhi festival for strengthening a bond of love between sisters and brothers.

Janai Purnima is one of the most sacred and important festivals of Hindu religion. The festival celebrates the bond of pureness and security. Janai means holy thread and Purnima is the full moon. On this day, Hindu Nepalese men of Brahmin and Chhetri perform their annual ritual of changing Janai.

Janai is a sacred thread made of cotton worn across the chest by Hindu men, especially Brahmin and Chhetri. They change this sacred thread after taking a bath in the rivers and pond. Brahimin perform Tarpan To Rishis early in the morning in the pond and rivers. It is a Vedic practice which refers to an offering made to divine entities.

They take a bath and makes their offering to Saptarishis (seven legendary rishis or sages) and their departed fathers and ancestors, then Tagadharis (Hindu men wearing the Janai) put the new Janai with a belief of having complete over body, speech, and mind.

In Janai, there are three cords, which symbolize body, speech, and mind and when the three knots have tied the one who wears is supposed to have gained completed control over each of the symbol.

Other people who are not wearing Janai, wears a sacred colorful thread called “Doro” around the wrist from Pundits (priest). There is a belief that sacred thread is worn for safety and protection. The thread is tied in the tail of cow on the third day of Tihar festival. This ritual is done for the safe passage to the heaven after death. It is believed that after a person dies, he/she would hold on to the tail of the cow as the cow pulls across to the Baitarni River.

Kwati Purnima/Gun Punhi

Janai Purnima is also called as Kwati Purnima or Gunhi Punhi. The Newar Community of Nepal mostly celebrates Kwati Purnima. However, nowadays every house celebrates this festival.

On this day, a special dish called Kwati is prepared and is consumed as a feast with the rest of the family as a celebration. Kwati is a soup made from a mix of nine different types of sprouted beans. The nine different beans used while making Kwati commonly includes black gram, chickpea, field bean, soybean, green gram, field pea, garden pea, cowpea and rice bean. The beans are soaked for three to four days in water until the time they sprout. They are cooked with various spices to make a thick soup.

This dish is consumed on the festival of Gun Punhi, the full moon day Gunla. Gunla is the tenth month of the Nepal Era lunar calendar. It is eaten as a delicacy and for health benefits and ritual significance.

Rakshya Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi is another festival of this day celebrated especially in Terai region of Nepal by Hindu and Jain. This festival is also celebrated throughout India. Raksha Bandhan means “bond of protection,” Raksha means “protection,” and Bandhan means “bond.”

They regard Raksha Bandhan is the festival of brother and sister. In this day, sisters meet her biological brothers, cousins or adopted brother-like friends and tie rakhi on her brother’s wrist. Rakhi is a colorfully woven bracelet. After rakhi, brothers and sisters pray together.

Then sisters apply tika (colorful mark) on brother’s forehead and perform an aarti wishing him a long and healthy life. In return, the brothers take promises to protect his sister and take care of her in all the circumstances. They also give gifts and money to sisters as a token of love and feed each other with sweets, fruit, and other delicious foods.

Legend Behind The Festival

One of the oldest festivals in India and Nepal , Raksha Bandhan, also referred to as ‘Rakhi’ is a day that celebrates the bond and the love between a brother and a sister, or siblings in general. The words ‘raksha bandha’ literally mean the ‘the bond of safety and security’ that siblings promise each other, no matter the circumstances. While the dates vary each year, it is normally celebrated around this time of the year. This year, it falls on August 3, which is a Monday.

Hindus around the world believe that the festival has much historical and mythological significance. In Mahabharata, when Lord Krishna had cut his finger while using his divine discus, Draupadi had dressed up his wound using the loose end of her saree. Thus, he had promised to protect her always, and he had kept his word especially during her public humiliation in the Hastinapur royal court.

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Janai Purnima Festival in Nepal: Updated Blog For 2024

• Modified on Apr 12, 2024

Janai Purnima is one of the many festivals observed with cultural implications throughout Nepal's diverse terrain. In Nepali, "Janai" and "Purnima" stands for a sacred thread and the full moon, respectively. Beginning with Janai Purnima, Nepal's festival season officially begins. In Nepal, this event marks the beginning of August but may vary.

This holy festival is celebrated every year on the day of the full moon in the month of Shrawan. Men who wear the sacred thread known as Janai, bathe in the nearest river or pond at the crack of dawn and switch the Janai that the priest gives them. On this day, Hindus also bind a sacred thread around their wrist.

Tying this sacred thread is believed to sanctify the soul and protect the body from any evil spirit. Prior to being attached to the tail of the cow during the Tihar festival, the holy thread in hand is told to be worn continuously throughout the day and for a few months after that. Devotees are said to benefit from this by experiencing good fortune and a better quality of life. Every year, thousands of disciples go from all across the nation to the Rasuwa district's Gosaikunda to take part in a fair. On this day, hundreds of devotees travel to Patan to the Kumbeshwar Temple. Additionally, the family gathers to cook and feast on delicious food on Janai Purnima. The night before Janai Purnima, nine different variety of lentils is soaked to make the special dish called "Kwati," which is made on this day. Not only is this delectable dish good for your health but it is also considered a gastronomical delight.

This festival is known as Janai Purnima in other parts of Nepal, while Hindus in North India and the Terai region of Nepal celebrate the same day as "Rakhi" or "Rakshya Bandhan." Brothers and sisters celebrate their bond with one another on this day. In order to increase crop output during Janai Purnima, farmers from the Newari community feed the frogs, who are revered as messengers of the God of rainfall. Here are some more fascinating facts and beliefs regarding the holy celebration of "Janai Purnima."

Table of Content

Meaning of janai ‘a sacred thread’ .

You may ask What is Janai made from? What is Janai? For your valuable information, Janai is a holy cotton thread worn across the chest by Hindu men. It is placed crosswise across the left shoulder to the right waistline. A Janai consists of six cotton threads, and each string has a meaning to it. Three of the threads symbolize Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar (the three major gods in Hinduism). And, the other three strains symbolize the totality of worship, knowledge, and karma. Those six strains of Janai have their unique symbolism according to the Hindu myths. This sacred thread is only given to males during an impressive religious ceremony called ‘Bratabandha’ which is such a type of ceremony or a formal process of accepting an individual in his religion. Hindu Nepalese men of the Brahmin and Chhetri groups perform their annual ritual of changing Janai during this festival. 

Why is Janai Purnima celebrated?

Janai symbolizes safety and purity. Janai is very meaningful to Brahmins in their everyday lives. This so-called consecrated, handmade cotton thread holds more deep religious consequences to the Hindus and is given to the men during their Bratabandha, which is a remarkable event that honors the end of boyhood. It is deemed that this holy Janai shields men from the hazards of the coming year. A boy who hasn’t performed Bratabandha does not wear this sacred thread. Janai Purnima is honored with a pure attitude as this holy thread contributes knowledge, wisdom, positivity, prosperity, and potency to the wearer. It is highly considered that there is the existence of God in every thread of Janai, so adopting a Janai protects from negative energy, and cleanses the body, mind, and soul.

When is Janai Purnima celebrated?

Janai Purnima falls during the month of the Bhadra according to the Nepali Calendar. This festival is an early August festival in Nepal that marks the beginning of other major festivals in Nepal. You can visit Nepal during the happening date to witness the rituals of this sacred celebration and get stunned by the beliefs and practices.

This year Janai Purnima falls on Monday, 19th August 2024. 

How is Janai Purnima celebrated?

In the hilly region of Nepal, it is taken as a day when the Brahmin men embark on the annual changing of their Janai (holy thread) that marks their coming-of-age ritual. A man who has participated in Bartabandha is qualified to wear Janai which means he is capable of performing Yagya and Puja. The day before Janai Purnima, men fast partially as they dodge garlic, meat, and onions in their meal. On the main day, Brahmin and Chhetri men take a holy bath early in the morning and are ready for a ritual to change the Janai. Thousands of pilgrims visit the tremendous divine lake named Gosaikunda and take holy dips in the lake to scour their souls and body. After taking the holy bath, the men release their old Janai and replace it with the new one. Other men usually visit nearby Hindu shrines where the priest intonates mantras and performs rituals to wear the new sacred thread. Khumbeshwar temple in Patan is also one of the most visited places during Janai Purnima.

Also, in Janai Purnima, the priest ties colorful threads on the wrist of men and women and give them blessings. It is believed that this thread on the wrist guards people against bad energy and blesses them with good luck throughout the year. In the Terai region and North Indian regions, this festival is celebrated as ‘Rakshyabandhan’ or ‘Rakhi’ which signifies the relationship between brothers and sisters. 

Myths and stories behind Janai Purnima festival in Nepal

Though the tradition of wearing a Janai is specified to Brahmins, Chhetris, and Vaishyas, today everyone including all men and women has the liberty to do this. Only after adorning the Janai, one is considered eligible to execute all 16 rites of human life which are called ‘Sanakars’. There are many mentions in Hindu Mythology related to Janai Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. It is claimed that all people including men and women of all castes had the tradition of wearing a Janai in the past. To date, while conducting Pujas such as Laxmi Puja, Durga Puja, or Swasthani Puja, Hindus offer Janai to the divinities as well. Offering a Janai to the female godheads during a puja symbolizes that they adorn the Janai. Wearing these sacred rituals is acknowledged to acquire direct energy from the Sun God, and the chanting of the Gayatri Mantra is supposed to increase mental, physical, and spiritual attention. 

About Kwati ‘ a special dish of Janai Purnima’

One of the delicious and special dishes that are not to be missed during the festival is the ‘Kwati’ made from soaked beans. In the present context, it is also called ‘Kwati eating day’. The Kwati is specially prepared on this day, so the name Kwati Punhi occurred. This special dish is a thick soup made up of a combination of a variety of beans and sprouts ranging from 9 to 12 types. Kwati is said to provide warmth and strength to our bodies. The sprouts and beans are doused in the water a day before the festival so that it becomes soft. And the next day, it is cooked well, mixing various spices and lots of water. This special dish can be prepared by roasting it with a vegetarian taste or mixing meat items. It is believed that this special dish is also medicine for diseases related to the digestive tract. 

Kwati Punhi ‘celebrated by the Newari community of Nepal’

Kwati Punhi was "celebrated by the Newari population in Nepal."Because they don't wear Janai during this festival, Nepal's Newar people (especially those from the Kathmandu valley) celebrate Janai Purnima as "Kwati eating day." They also observe Gunhu Punhi on this day. On this particular day, they merely bind a Dora ``thread" to their wrist. After taking a bath in the early morning, they go to a neighboring shrine where a priest would tie a Dora around their wrist. The Newar people commemorate Kwati Punhi by cooking a special food called "Kwati '' at home after tying the Dora. Gai Jatra, another significant celebration of the Kathmandu valley, occurs the day after Janai Purnima.

On this particular day, the Dora on the wrist is fastened to a cow's tail. According to folklore, the cow would direct the deceased's soul to heaven.

Raksha Bandhan and how it is celebrated?

Reflecting on what is meant by "a tie of protection”,  Janai Purnima and Raksha Bandhan are both observed on the same day. The words Rakshya and Bandhan both refer to tying a knot. Sisters tie Rakhi, or "colorful thread," around the wrist of their brothers in the Terai region of Nepal and in the North Indian region, with the belief that the sacred thread will shield the brother from evil spirits and bestow good fortune. As sisters who are not related by blood accept the guy as their brother and tie rakhi on their wrists, the thread of rakhi has the capacity to deepen the brother-sister bond. After tying the rakhi, it is said that the brother has a responsibility to look out for his sister. Bhai Tika, which is observed in Nepal on the final day of the Tihar festival, and Rakshya Bandhan are somewhat comparable. The sister worships her brother by placing a tika on his forehead and adorning him with garlands.

Following that, the sister fastens a rakhi to her brother's wrist while praying to God for his protection from harm. The brother gives his sister things in exchange. Following that, the brother prostrates himself at his sister's feet to receive her blessing. Rakshya Bandhan in Nepal is observed in this manner.

Are Janai Purnima and Rakshya Bandhan the same?

Even though they both fall on the same day, Janai Purnima and Rakshya Bandhan are not celebrated in the same way. On Janai Purnima each year, the previous Janai is replaced by the new one. On the other hand, sisters tie Rakhi on their brothers' wrists to celebrate Raksha Bandhan.

This intriguing celebration represents the distinctive Hindu tradition in Nepal, which bears distinct cultural and religious attributes. Raksha Bandhan is essential for enhancing the genuine and deep ties between brother and sister. A Janai holds cultural value

Make sure to travel to Nepal in August if you want to witness this fascinating event. The date of this year's Janai Purnima is 19th August, 2024, Monday. You will also have the opportunity to experience the varied customs and cultures of other activities. Contact us for further details on participating in Nepali festivals and for additional information.

Abhishek Dhital

Abhishek Dhital relishes observing the customs and cultures of many regions of Nepal as a travel photographer, blogger, and certified trekking guide. He is a native of Dang, a stunning region in western Nepal. He was raised in the Inner Terai and has always loved to climb up to his hometown's highlands. He moved to Kathmandu after completing his schooling, where he received a bachelor's degree in Travel and Tourism Management from Nepal College of Travel and Tourism Management, Lazimpat. He stated, "When I began studying tourism, I became really attracted to its service approach and made the decision to become a professional tour guide and travel writer.

In 2015, he began his photographic journey. He gradually began traveling and shooting genuine grins and experiences. He is now discovering fresh and original techniques to market Nepal and give his clients first-rated service in the mountains.

He declared, "I am really happy to be a member of Footprint Adventure as I can develop my career in a booming tourism industry where I may get the chance to perform well and prove my abilities accepting challenges and pressures completing the organizational goal." He genuinely believes in the power of nature, and he thinks it can change people's outlooks and lead them to discover their life's purpose.

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Essay (The Festival I Like Most)

The festival I like most

Nepal is rich in culture. So many feasts and festivals are observed in Nepal. Most of the people in Nepal are Hindus. So, Hindu festivals are very common in Nepal. Many festivals are observed in my community. Dashain, Tihar, Holi, Janai Purnima etc, are the most common festivals in my community. Among these festivals, I like Dashain most.

Dashain is the greatest festival of Hindu people. It lies in the month of October. This festival is observed for fifteen days. During this festival, all the schools, campuses and offices remain closed. So, all the family members come back to their houses. They get the chance to meet each other. The surroundings are kept clean. People paint their houses beautifully. 

During this festival, people worship Durga who is the goddess of power and strength. Different animals are sacrificed to goddess Durga. People recite holy book Chandi to worship Durga. The tenth day of Dashain is the most important. On this day seniors mark the foreheads of juniors by putting coloured spot known as Tika. Children are very happy in this festival because they get new dresses to wear. They eat good food during this festival. They go outside to play swing also.

All the members of the family come back in their houses. They share their happiness and sorrows. Children are very happy during this festival. The weather is also good in this festival because it lies in autumn season which is neither hot nor cold. Because of these reasons, Dashain is the festival I like most.

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