Kathmandu. Today, Janai Purnima is being celebrated across Nepal, with thousands of devotees visiting various temples, including the sacred Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. This auspicious day, which also coincides with Raksha Bandhan, has seen a large gathering of worshippers at Pashupatinath.
Janai Purnima, observed on the full moon day of the Nepali months of Shrawan and Bhadra, is a significant festival during which devotees, primarily men from the Brahmin and Kshatriya communities, change their sacred threads, known as “Janai.”
This ritual is performed after a holy dip in a river, pond, or lake, followed by receiving the new thread from a priest who chants sacred mantras. Keshav Prasad Ojjha, a priest at Pashupatinath, explained, “The Janai is believed to protect the individual from negative energies.”
The Janai, which is first received during the Bratabandha ceremony, symbolizes the transition from boyhood to manhood. It is regarded as a source of wisdom, knowledge, and the purification of the soul, body, and mind.
The temple premises were bustling with priests tying threads and performing rituals throughout the day. Among them, a young 14-year-old priest named Utsav Panta stood out, offering and tying Janai threads to the devotees.
Devotees formed long queues from early morning, eager to worship Lord Shiva and seek blessings for the well-being and protection of their families and siblings.
Raksha Bandhan, also celebrated today, is a festival where sisters tie a sacred thread on their brothers’ wrists, symbolizing protection from evil forces. The term “Raksha” means protection, and “Bandhan” means bond, signifying the protective bond between brothers and sisters.
The festive atmosphere at Pashupatinath was a vibrant blend of devotion, tradition, and the celebration of these sacred ties.
News By Grishma Tamang редред Photos by Puspa Pal