16 Jul 2023 4 min to read
Nepali festivals Guru Purnima, Gathemangal, Janai Purnima hold great significance and bring communities together. Guru Purnima is one such festival where teachers and leaders are honored for their guidance and wisdom. Gathemangal signifies the end of negativity by burning an effigy representing a demon. Janai Purnima/Rakshya Bandhan is a day when Hindu males change their sacred threads, while sisters tie colorful Rakhis on their brothers’ wrists. Gum Punhi or Kwati Khane din festival involves enjoying a special soup called Kwati. These festivals reflect cultural diversity and traditions celebrated with joy and gratitude.
Guru Purnima (July/August)
Guru Purnima is a special festival where we honor and appreciate our teachers, leaders, or gurus. The word “guru” in Sanskrit means someone who helps us overcome ignorance and guides us. During this festival, schools celebrate with joy and enthusiasm. Teachers are given garlands, gifts, and yummy feasts as a token of gratitude. Students also perform cultural activities to show their respect for their teachers. It’s not just limited to schools; people who consider someone their teacher visit or send wishes on this day. It’s a wonderful occasion that strengthens the bond between teachers and students.
Gathemangal/Ghantakarna Chaturdashi (July/August)
Gathemangal is a festival that celebrates the end of negativity and cruelty represented by a demon named ‘Ghantakara.’ It is also known as ‘Ghantakarna Chaturdashi.’ During this festival, the Newar community creates an effigy of the demon using straw, green leaves, a reed, and a picture or mask representing the demon. They parade the effigy through the streets and in the evening, it is set on fire in the middle of the street.
To protect themselves from evil spirits, people wear iron rings on their fingers. Some also choose to make donations as a way to rid themselves of these negative influences. In the Newar community, people clean their houses and prepare delicious feasts. They worship in the evening, placing iron nails on the doors of their houses and setting up a pot filled with blessed meals in the middle of the street. Finally, they enjoy the feast with their family members.
Janai Purnima/Rakshya Bandhan/Kwati Khane (July/August)
Janai Purnima is a special day when Hindu males change their old Janai, which is a sacred cotton string worn across their chest, and replace it with a new one. A priest usually hands them the new Janai. Before changing the Janai, Hindu males take a dip in a holy river three times or bathe themselves. The sacred string represents their body, speech, and mind, and by wearing it, they believe they gain control over these aspects of themselves.
On this day, both men and women tie a holy and colorful knot called ‘doro’ for security and purity. They see it as a symbol of good luck. Hindus often tie the knot around their hands while performing rituals and chanting sacred words. They also choose to eat Sattvic foods, which are considered pure and nourishing. This day is also known as Rakshya Bandhan. Sisters tie colorful Rakhis around their brothers’ wrists, celebrating the special bond and protection between siblings. It’s a joyful festival that highlights the strong relationship between brothers and sisters.
‘Gum Punhi’, also known as Kwati Khane din, is celebrated by the Newar community. They enjoy a special dish called Kwati, a soup made from a mix of nine beans. It includes black gram, green gram, chickpea, field bean, soybean, garden pea, field pea, rice bean, and cowpea. Newari farmers express gratitude to frogs by offering them kwati and rice, as frogs are believed to bring rain for farming. Kwati is not only delicious but also nutritious, providing energy and boosting immunity.
