Janai purnima , Rakhsya bandhan and the delicious kwati 2077

Janai purnima festival of sacred threads falls on full moon day in the month of Shrawan which also falls on the month of August. This year it falls on the date of 3rd August and  30th Shrawan 2077. The 'Taghadharis', bearer of the holy thread called Janai, take a bath in the nearest river or pond early in the morning on this day and change the janai given by their priest.Devotees on this day chant bhajan and worship Lord Shiva. Janai is a holy thread wear by Hindu male which signifies that the boys are now converted into man.The tradition of wearing Janai starts when boys completed the ceremony called "bratabandha". Generally,   janai signifies the purity in a man. It entitles men to understand how an ideal man should be.

The Hindu god Brahma ,the creator of all living creatures and earth also created holy thread janai. Lord Bishnu filled with knowledge and blessings where Lord Shiva bind it together.These sacred threads protect a man’s knowledge, wisdom, power, prosperity and emotions and prevents from evil power.

   

On this auspicious occasion devotees also tie a colorful sacred thread on the wrist with the belief that it protects from evil power.Generally the colorful thread is called as Doro and this festival is also called Doro badhne purnima.

 In the valleys and terai areas people celebrate Rakshya bandhan which also increase and help to flourish the bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters of all ages tie a talisman,called the Rakhi made of silk threads, around the wrists of their brothers, symbolically protecting them, wishing them a long happy life,receiving a gift in return. It can be said that this is a festival to deepen the sacred relationship of brother and sister.

No any festivals and religious events are complete without special dish.On this religious day people eat special dish known as "kwati". Kwati is mixed soup of nine types of sprouted beans and specially eaten by Newari people of Nepal but it is so famous that everyone have this healthy soup thses days. It is a traditional Nepali dish consumed on Janai purnima (Gun Punhi). The soup is highly rich in protein packed with nutients and minerals.Kwati is a mixture of beans such as mung beans, soyabean, red kidney bean, black lentils, black eyed peas, fava beans( bakulla simi), chickpeas, cow peas and green peas. Allow the beans to soak 8 hours minimum or overnight in cold water because beans soaked in hot water will not sprout. Discard the soaking water next day, rinse with cold water and place the bean on clean cloth and cover it. Rinse twice a day until the beans are 1/4 inch long, It may take 1-3 days. Kwati is very delicious food which believed to cure cold, cough, and one of the best food for the woman in their maternity leave. 

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At the end of the day Bhajans are chanted and some  Lord shiva bhakts fleed to Gosaikunda for holy bath. A large number of pilgrims from different parts of Nepal and India visits. This holy place is beleived to be created with his holy Trident(Trishul) by thrusting mountain to extract water so that he could cool his stinging throat from the poison produced during samundra manthan. So,with joy and full of religious importance Janai purnima increase the cooperation mutual understanding and brings families and family members closer.It also fill people with positive energy respect and brings holy power. 

Beginning of a new era

-Nama Raj Bhusal