Janai Purnima and Rakshya Bandhan

Rakshya Bandhan and Janai Purnima are observed on full moon ( purnima) day during Shrawan/ Bhadra. It is an important festival celebrated by Hindus all over the world.

Rakshya Bandhan
Rakhshya is a sacred colorful thread that is tied around wrists by senior member of the family or a priest and this sacred thread is believed to be symbol of protection. The following mantra is chanted while tying rakhsya around one’s wrist

"एन बद्धु बलि राजा दानबिन्द्रो महावल

तेन त्वं  बध नामी रक्षे मा चल मा चल"

Meaning: 
“I tie on you (the devotee) the raksha which was tied on Bali, the King of demons.
Therefore Oh Raksha! Do not ever fail to protect this devotee, do not ever fail.” (Bhavishyottara Puran : 137/20)

The same day sisters put Rakhi, which is also a sacred thread, around their brother’s wrist. The brothers on the other hand give gifts or Dakshina (cash gift) to their sisters. Rakhi is believed to strengthen the bond between brothers and sisters and also protects the brother from any kind of evil. Rakhi symbolizes the sister's love and prayers for her brother's well-being, and the brother's lifelong vow to protect her.

Janai Purnima
On this day, Hindu men, especially the Brahmins and Chettris perform their annual change of Janai and all who celebrate this festival put a scared thread around their left neck to the right armpits below. Janai is regarded as a symbol of body, speech and mind. Men usually go to sacred rivers and ponds to take a holy bath and change this thread or janai.

Source: www.fishtail.org

Another wonderful aspect of Janai Purnima/Rakshya Bandhan is preparation of Kwati. Kwati is a delicious soup of nine types of sprouted beans. Kwati is a special soup prepared on this particular day by all those who celebrate the festival. Kwati is a rich source of protein and its consumption is beneficial for health.

Source: dwitnews.com

Godawari Kunda Mela 2072

Godawari Kunda Entrance Gate on August 18 (Start Day)

Picture By: Subodh Maharjan | www.subodhmaharjan.com.np

प्रत्येक १२ बर्षमा सुर्य र ब्रेहस्पति सिंह राशिमा प्रवेश गरेको बेलामा भाद्र १ गते देखी एक महिनासम्म गोदावरीमा बिशेस मेला लाग्दछ । यस मेलामा गोदावरी स्नान गर्नाले सम्पूर्ण पापहरु पखालिन्छ र रोगहरु नास हुन्छ भन्ने बिस्वास रहिआएको हुँदा देश-बिदेश बाट पनि भक्ताजनाहरु आउने गरिन्छ ।

Godawari is considered as one of the sacred site due to Godawari Kunda (Godawari Spring Pond) Kathmandu Lalitpur. The temple of Siddheshwor Mahadev is beside the Inner Kunda. It is believed that water in the Kunda is originated from the sacred place in India also known as Godawari. There are five Dhunge Dhara (stone tap: popular ancient architecture) from where the pure kunda water flows to outer Kunda from the inner Kunda.

People from around Nepal come to take dip into the Kunda during Godawari Mela (festival). This Mela takes place in every 12 years in the autumn season and people from around the country participate in the fair. The festival runs for about month celebrating different kind of rituals.

History

The festival is said to date back at least 1,000 years to the Lichhavi period, and was later adopted by the Malla kings of the Valley. The crystal clear waters of the springs of Godavari below Phulchoki, the highest mountain on the Valley rim, are said to be linked to a river of the same name in southern India.

Godavari’s holy pond with five dhunge dhara (stone spouts) is believed to have been formed when the oceans were churned and one drop of amrit (nectar) that came out fell on Godavari.

Bahadev Baral, writer of Godavari Mela

Source: Nepali Times

Bahadev Baral, from Godavari has written a book on the Godavari Mela and quotes the legend that 

one of the seven saints of Hinduism, Gautam Rishi, was once grazing his cattle when one of his cows fell off a cliff and died. He asked Lord Shiva to help, and was told to pray to Ganga. That night the river goddess appeared in a dream and the next day the waters of the Ganga somehow came to Godavari, at a time of the auspicious conjunction of Jupiter with the Sun – which happens every 12 years. 

The saint is then supposed to have built the Siddheshwar Temple beside the pond at Godavari Kunda. From that day, the Godavari Mela occurs on this same day Ganga appeared to Rishi, every 12 years.

Photo By: Bikram Rai

Article by: Subodh Maharjan | www.subodhmaharjan.com.np

Reference: Nepali Times

Fact#4 : Nepal is the only country in the world home to a living goddess, the Kumari

Fact#4 : Nepal is the only country in the world home to a living goddess, the Kumari.

‪#‎FascinatingNepal‬ ‪#‎NepalFacts‬ ‪#‎Kumari‬

Fact#3 : Nepal is the only country in the world with a non-rectangular Flag

Fact#3 : Nepal is the only country in the world with a non-rectangular Flag.
Nepal Flag Design: Combination of two red pennons with a blue border, defaced with a sun-and-crescent and a moon.

Fact#2 : Mount Everest is situated in Nepal

Fact#2 : Mount Everest, also known in Nepal as Sagarmāthā and in Tibet as Chomolungma, is Earth's highest mountain. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. Its peak is 8,850 metres above sea level.

Fact#1 Siddhartha Gautam Buddha was born in Kapilvastu, Lumbini, Nepal.

Fact#1 Siddhartha Gautam Buddha was born in Kapilvastu, Lumbini, Nepal.

6 Things Women Who Celebrate Teej Can Relate To

The country is going bright once again with women clad in their all time favorite color –Red. Haritalika teej or Teej is a festival celebrated by women to mark the union of goddess Parvati with Lord Shiva. This festival is observed for marital happiness and well being of family members. Though people from other cultural backgrounds think it’s really hard for women who celebrate teej because of the difficult fasting ritual the festival holds  , it is actually a festival women enjoy celebrating.

Listed are six things every woman who celebrates Teej loves about it.

Fun with Dar

Having Dar before the tough fasting day has its own charm. Moreover, meeting friends and relatives who are sharing similar experiences is what adds to the charm of the festival. We might have delicious food before and after, but Daar always has a special significance to women celebrating teej.

Buying and Gifting Accessories

Buying and exchanging accessories is another important part of teej. We love to embellish ourselves as well our experience sharers with beautiful accessories on this day. So our teej shopping starts a month before and sometimes even before that. After all, shopping is an art and women are masters in this art!

Unveiling the Best Traditional Look

This is the day we dress up in our best traditional attire. We might not step out of our houses but still we prefer to look our very best. Unmarried girls usually prefer red kurtas while most married women are seen in beautiful red sarees and a green tilhari that fully complements their attire.

Strict Fasting on Own Will

No matter what belief we have throughout the year about staying hungry, we love to fast on this day of the year. Some women fast without having a single drop of water while some spend the day with fruits and other pious edibles. We give up our meals for our family especially for the wellness of our husband and in return we get self satisfaction and peace of mind.

Visiting Temples 

Women queue up from midnight in Lord Shiva’s temples just to get a glimpse of Lord Shiva on this day. Most of the time women have to queue up for an entire day to keep their wishes in front of Lord Shiva. No matter how great the hardship, teej is never complete without visiting Shiva ji’s temples.

Dancing With Heart

No food to burn calories, no water to trench the thirst, yet we always have that unmatchable energy to dance our heart out on this day. This is the only day when even our mom and aunts dance like nobody’s watching and it gives us immense pleasure to watch them pour all their sorrows and happiness through their dances.

Project MARU SATAL (Kasthamandap)

Maru Satal (Kasthamandap) is a three-storey pagoda-style pavilion (rest house) situated in the Hunuman Dhoka Durbar Square in heart of Kathmandu city and is believed to be built out of a single tree. The Kathmandu city is named after this pavilion. Kasthamandap means ‘wooden pavilion’. It was built in the 12th century and renovated by Laxmi Narsingha Malla in the 17th century to the present form until the earthquake of 25 April, 2015. It is the oldest and largest standing structure and an excellent example of newar architecture of the valley. If we do not restore Kasthamandap, we will lose a part of our heritage and a part of our identity forever.

Northeast corner of Maru Satah

Surya Shrestha adding color to Maru Satah (Kasthamandap)

Heera and Saroj on the finishing touches

View of Veranda of Maru Satah

Final stage of Maru Satah (Kasthamandap) construction

Veranda on the middle floor of Maru Satah

The main entrance to Maru Satah Kasthamandap

Final touches

Interior view of Maru Satah (Kasthamandap)

Frontside view (East) of Maru Satah

Model of Maru Satah with Sanil Tuladhar

Reference:

Juju Tuladhar