Rakshya Bandhan, Janai Purnima

On August 26, 2018 some people in Nepal wear ‘Janai’ – the sacred thread – hanging from the left shoulder. Other cut their hair and path to celebrate Janai Purnima or Rishi Tarpani or Raksha Bandhan.

Most of the Hindu people wear a yellow thread – the ‘Raksha Bandhan’ thread – tied around the wrist as an amulet. Brahmin priests tie it round the wrist by chanting of mantras as a symbol of protection from fear and disease.

The Newar community celebrate ‘Kwanti Purnima’ by preparing a soup from nine different beans. The protein rich special delicacy is common in Kathmandu valley.

The people in Terai region have a tradition to tie ‘Rakhi’ around the wrist by sisters to their brothers. The sisters wish the brothers a long life and prosperity on the occasion. The tradition is popular in India and people in Kathmandu and other parts of Nepal are also following the new trend of Rakhi.

Lord Shiva is worshiped in Pashupatinath in Kathmandu. Kumbheswar temple in Lalitpur and other Shiva temples all over the country are crowded by the devotees. The lake in high himalaya of Rashuwa District, Gosaikunda, is also crowded on the day. The religious fair at Gosainkunda Lake is quite popular among people in Kathmandu.

Some of the places where religious fairs take place are :

• Pashupati and Manichud of Kathmandu
• Gosainkunda of Rasuwa
• Kumbheshwar of Lalitpur
• Panchpokhari of Sindhupalchok
• Janakpurdham, Dhanush Sagar and Ganga Sagar of Dhanusha
• Dansanghu of Jumla
• Trivenidham of Nawalparasi.

In addition to the Hindu, the Buddhists also celebrate the day as the day Gautam Buddha defeated the evil power of lust. A Buddhist scripture ‘Lalitbistar’ describes how Buddha defeated the worldly love. To celebrate the day, a special fair is held at Swayambhunath of Kathmandu.

Some social media posts:

#जनैपूणिर्मा#तागाधारी
मैतिदेबी माता कि जय।। pic.twitter.com/in37RGuvvb

— नोट अफ डिसेन्ट (@NirdoshPaudel) August 26, 2018

हैप्पि जनै पुर्ने । pic.twitter.com/XL1NH47QWq

— D-दोस्रोदर्जाबाहेकको (@Dinesh30np) August 26, 2018

मेरो संस्कृति , मेरो पहिचान । जनै पुर्णिामा , रक्षाबन्धनको शुभकामना सबै नेपालीलाई ! pic.twitter.com/CGv5Y6JFct

— Sameer M Dixit 🇳🇵 (@smadixit) August 26, 2018

Indian PM did the Rakhi (Popular in Terai region of Nepal too)

The Prime Minister conveys Raksha Bandhan greetings during #MannKiBaat. https://t.co/CbSYmu66bw pic.twitter.com/rrZWfhya14

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 26, 2018

येन बद्धो वली राजा दानवेन्द्रो महाबलः ।
तेन त्वामभिबध्नामी रक्षे माचल माचल
happy#janai purnima#
happy # rakshya bandhan#
शुभ प्रभात सबैमा# सबैको दिन शुभ रहोस#

— मुस्कान शर्मा (@adroshani) August 26, 2018

Binding faith with strings. Happy Janai Purnima! @MyCityRepublica pic.twitter.com/U6qqCgjJlm

— Subhash Ghimire (@subhash580) August 26, 2018

Day when wrist covered with variety of threads (rakhi) and being blessed!!
Day filled with gratifying vibes!!
And Soul, mind , tone and tongue expressed sweetest  day of the year!!
*Divine relation
*janaipurnima(Rakshabandhan) pic.twitter.com/R98wgP7RJX

— sudhakar. (@sudhaka76983144) August 26, 2018