Nepal

Janai Purnima is being celebrated by Hindu Nepalis with much fanfare. The festival is celebrated on the full moon of Shukla Paksha in the month of Shravan (July/August).

Janai is a sacred thread worn by men in the Brahmin and Kshetri communities. Men take a bath and change their Janai while the priest recites a sacred mantra. It is believed that a person wearing Janai could have control over their body, speech, and mind. Hence, this festival has both cultural and religious significance.

Janai is only worn by men who have already done their Bratabandha (Upanayan) ritual. The sacred thread is regarded as men being bounded by certain responsibilities and vows that they have to follow while continuing the knowledge of their guru.

Meanwhile, every Hindu Nepalis wear a colourful-but-sacred thread on their wrist, known as 'Doro'. It is worn for protection from negativity. This thread is later tied on the tail of a cow on the day of Gai Puja during the Tihar festival, which is the second biggest festival of Nepal.

Moreover, Janai Purnima coincides with two other festivals - Rakshabandhan and Kwati Punhi.

Rakshabandhan is a festival of brothers and sisters. They tie 'Rakhi', a colourful bracelet with religious significance, to their brothers. In return, the brothers give them gifts as well. This festival is more like a promise of forever protecting each other from harm.

Likewise, Kwati Punhi is another festival celebrated on this day. Kwati is a feast made up of nine different beans, which are soaked for three to four days and sprouted. It is similar to a stew or soup.

Hindu festivals are incomplete without mythology attached to it.

Janai Purnima is linked with Goddess Laxmi, who tied Rakhi to the demon god, Bali. When Bali asked Lord Bishnu to stay with him when the latter came to him in the Baaman avatar. Because of this, the world was a chaos. Then, Goddess Laxmi tied a Rakhi to Bali, and asked him for a gift. Bali said he would gift anything to goddess Laxmi. Then, as a gift, the goddess asked Bali to let Lord Bishnu return to Baikuntha. King Bali granted her wish and let Lord Vishnu go. This festival is celebrated since then.

Devotees visit the nearby temples to seek blessings and perform the Janai Purnima rituals on this day.

Photo feature: (All photo: NepalMinute)