Aug. 31: Hindu people across the country are celebrating Janai Purnima with much happiness.
The ‘Tagadharis’, bearer of the holy thread called Janai, take a bath in the nearest river or pond early in the morning and change the janai given by their priest.
Devotees also tie a sacred thread around their wrist on this day, which they believe purifies the soul and protects the body from evil. Many Hindus across the country go to Gosaikunda, in Rasuwa district, to participate in an annual fair. In the valley and the southern plains, Nepalese also celebrate Rakshya Bandhan, a festival to celebrate the bond of love and affection between brothers and sisters.
On this day, especially among the Newar community, a special nine-bean soup, traditionally known as Kwati, is prepared as part of their meal. According to the community elders, the soup provides much-needed warmth to the farmers, who spent the monsoon summer in muddy water, planting crops in the fields.
