Rakshya Bandhan (Janai Purnima)
Janai Purnima falls on the full moon day of August. Brahman and Chhetri communities in Nepal change their sacred thread “Janai” on this day after taking a holy bath or dip in the river. Meanwhile, for people in these communities and others like Newars, Brahman priests tie an ornamental thread to their wrists and in return receive gifts. These sacred threads are sanctified by the Brahman priests, worshiping Gods and Saptarishis. Saptarishis are the Tutors of the Gods in an ancient time who could forecast the past present and future episodes exactly in the Golden era. The sacred thread Janai and the thread is venerated as a feature of Lord Vishnu and it protects us from being and kind of spiritual sickness as well.
Many people throng to Pashupati and Budhanilkantha temple on this day to change Janai and tie thread (dhaago) from the priests there. Brahmin and Chhetri people get Janai only when they have completed their Bratabandha (a special type of religious rite, approximately before the age of 15).
A religious fair takes place at Gosaikunda Lake in Rasuwa district on this day. Thousands of devotees throng there to take the holy dip in the lake to eradicate their sins. A similar religious fete takes place at Kumbheshower temple (Bangalamukhi) in Patan. People who can’t visit the Gosaikunda pilgrimage take holy dip in this pond and worship to Lord Kumbheshower there. It’s believed that the water there has been brought from Gosaikunda Pilgrimage.
