Shrawan Month, Luto Falne Din, month of green and yellow

2021 Update post with the story behind the Luto Falne din.

The first day of Shrawan month in Nepali calendar, popularly known as Shrawan Sakranti, is celebrated by the farming communities in Nepal. The whole Shrawan month is also considered the month of lord Shiva. Nepali women worship Lord Shiva and fast on every Mondays of the month.

Luto Falne

Shrawan is the month of rain. During rainy season a itchy contagious skin disease commonly known as Luto (Scabies) is quite common. To get rid of such disease, people celebrate by worshiping using fruits like lemon, lime, guava, pomegranate, pear etc. to worship a demon named Kandarak. In the evening of the day different plants of medicinal value are burnt in fire. A small burning torch is then thrown in all four directions. At the time of throwing the torch, some people close the door for a while, others bang drums, plates, or bells. This tradition known as Luto Falne, vary from places to places in terms of the procedure of celebration.

Actually this is a tradition of taking a rest from heavy work season of Ashad. The people are usually busy in the previous month in field to plant rice and other grains.

Women and children use different design of temporary tattoo known as mehandi in their hand. In addition to practicing such traditional practices, people celebrate by eating delicious foods on the day.

The month of Lord Shiva

People, specially women, celebrate the month as Lord Shiva’s month. They fast on every Monday of the month and worship – while unmarried women worship wishing for a good match, the married ones worship the god to wish for the good health of their husbands.

Women wear green and yellow coloured clothes and ornaments. Such clothes and temporary tattoos (mehandi) are considered Shiva’s favourite.

This year, in 2018, Shrawan Shrankati was on July 16th.

Some Twitter shares of Mehandi and Yellow and Green bangles:

मेहन्दी को जस्तै भयो सम्बन्ध पहिले गाढा, अनि फिक्का अनि अहिले टाढा । 💘 pic.twitter.com/Sja003KLcb

— Bना Mgr (@Kalib431) July 18, 2018

हरियो र पहेँलो चुरा लगाएर
हात र हत्केलामा मेहन्दि सजाएर
साउनको महिना बित्ने भो हातै रंगाएर pic.twitter.com/e5SH4PO3MW

— लामिछाने काजि (@KhimLamichhane) July 17, 2018

ल साउने सक्रान्ती को शुभकामना सबै मेहन्दी लगाउने नलगाउने हरु लाई 💕💕 pic.twitter.com/7OJMWsEgcJ

— सृजना भुसाल (@crzuu3) July 17, 2018

साउन को महीना सबको हातभरी हरियो चुरा,
वर्त बस्ने को शिव भोले गरिदिनु मनको पुरा !
रङ्गी चङ्गि हातभरि मेहन्दी हरियो नै साडी,
सबको मनमा खुसीयाली छाओस झै फुलभाडी!
साउनको सोमवार वर्त बसे शिव मनकामना,
यही छ मेरो साउने संक्रान्ति को सबलाई शुभकामना #मनकला_खनाल_पुजारा (#Miss_You_Sanu ) pic.twitter.com/PjTJN4n6uN

— Ganesh Singh Pujara (@Ganeshpujara198) July 17, 2018