Janai Purnima – Raksha Bandhan

Nepal is a country of varied religions and occasions. Janai Purnima, mostly know as Janai Purne and also known as Kwati Purne, Srawani Purnima, Rishi Purnima and Raksha Bandhan is one such festival which very magnanimous. This festival falls in the full moon of Bhadra (August).

On this day Bhraman and Chhetri communities in Nepal change their sacred thread called Janai or Yajnopavita; sanctified by the Bhraman Priests after taking a holy bath or dip in the river. And the other communities tie Janai or Doro or Tago on their wrists from the Bhraman Priests.

This festival is very much popular among the Hindus. People have belief that if some one ties Tago on this day by the Bhraman Priests; and offer them donations; they will earn virtue and blessings from the God for auspicious life. The sacred thread Janai and Tago is venerated as a feature of Lord Vishnu and it protects us from being and kind of spiritual sickness as well.

And on this day sisters tie Rakhi on the wrist of their brothers. and it is a unique bond between a brother and a sister which celebrate to show love and affection shared between a brother and a sister. Sisters tie a delicate cord of Rakhi on this day and pray for their brothers long life. Brothers, in turn, give them Rakhi gifts and vows to protect and care for them life long. So it is called Raksha Bandhan.

And on this day mainly the Newar community cook a special food called Kwati a mixure of sprouted legumes and eaten with wheat-bread (chapati). Kwati is the Newari word and the literary meaning of it, is hot soup. It is a soup of nine-mixed-beans – Black-eye Peas, Cow Peas, Black Lentils, Mung, Peas, Rajmas, Chickpeas, Soybeans, Favas. Some mix more beans too.

Janai Purnima signifies the end of the rainy month and beginning of the cold season in Nepal.

Newar farmers offer different food items to frogs on this day. Belief holds that worshiping the frog, which is considered an agent of the God of rainfall, by making offerings of different food items help to increase the production of crops.

Thus all celebrate Janai Purnima or Raksha Bandhan with great enthusiasm.

Today is Janai Purnima and we wish you all Happy Janai Purnima and Raksha Bandhan