Nepali Calendar 2024 Shrawan
As a proud Nepali, I always look forward to the month of Shrawan, which falls between mid-July and mid-August in the Gregorian calendar. This month is particularly special because it marks the beginning of the monsoon season, and is also a time for various cultural and religious celebrations. In this article, I will share my personal experience of celebrating Shrawan, and provide a comprehensive guide to the Nepali Calendar 2024 Shrawan.
My Experience of Celebrating Shrawan
As a child, I always looked forward to the month of Shrawan because it meant that the monsoon season was finally here. I used to love the sound of raindrops falling on the roof, the smell of wet soil, and the sight of lush greenery all around. However, as I grew older, I came to appreciate the cultural and religious significance of this month.
One of the things I love about Shrawan is the fact that it is a time for family and community gatherings. My family and I usually celebrate the month by hosting a potluck dinner with our friends and relatives. We prepare traditional Nepali dishes such as sel roti, aloo tama, and kheer, and share stories and memories of past Shrawan celebrations.
Nepali Calendar 2024 Shrawan: Festivals and Events
The Nepali Calendar 2024 Shrawan is packed with various festivals and events. Here are some of the most important ones:
- Teej: This is a women’s festival that falls on the third day of the bright fortnight of Shrawan. Women dress up in red and green attire, and fast for the long life of their husbands. They also sing and dance to traditional Teej songs.
- Rakshya Bandhan: This is a Hindu festival that celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. Sisters tie a rakhi (sacred thread) on their brothers’ wrists, and in return, brothers promise to protect them from harm.
- Janai Purnima: This is a Buddhist and Hindu festival that falls on the full moon day of Shrawan. It is also known as Raksha Bandhan in some parts of Nepal. On this day, men change their sacred thread (janai), and receive blessings from Brahmin priests.
- Gai Jatra: This is a Newari festival that falls on the first day of the dark fortnight of Shrawan. It is a time to remember and honor the departed souls, and to ease the pain of those who have lost their loved ones.
Events and Festivals Celebration for Nepali Calendar 2024 Shrawan
Each festival and event in the Nepali Calendar 2024 Shrawan has its own unique traditions and rituals. Here is a brief overview:
Teej
Teej is primarily a women’s festival, and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal. Women fast for the long life of their husbands, and spend the day singing and dancing to traditional Teej songs. They also dress up in red and green attire, and adorn themselves with henna tattoos. In some parts of Nepal, women also visit the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu to offer prayers.
Rakshya Bandhan
Rakshya Bandhan is a festival that celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters tie a rakhi on their brothers’ wrists, and in return, brothers promise to protect them from harm. This festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy, and is a time for family and community gatherings. Sisters also prepare traditional sweets such as laddu and barfi to share with their brothers.
Janai Purnima
Janai Purnima is a festival that is celebrated by both Hindus and Buddhists. On this day, men change their sacred thread (janai), and receive blessings from Brahmin priests. Hindus also observe the festival as a time to pay homage to Lord Shiva, and to purify their souls from sins. Buddhists, on the other hand, celebrate the festival as a time to remember Lord Buddha’s first sermon.
Gai Jatra
Gai Jatra is a Newari festival that is celebrated in the Kathmandu Valley. It is a time to remember and honor the departed souls, and to ease the pain of those who have lost their loved ones. During the festival, families who have lost a loved one in the past year parade through the streets with a cow (gai) or a boy dressed as a cow. The cow is believed to help the departed soul on its journey to the afterlife.
Question and Answer (FAQs) about Nepali Calendar 2024 Shrawan
1. When is Nepali Calendar 2024 Shrawan?
Nepali Calendar 2024 Shrawan falls between mid-July and mid-August in the Gregorian calendar.
2. What are the most important festivals and events in Nepali Calendar 2024 Shrawan?
The most important festivals and events in Nepali Calendar 2024 Shrawan are Teej, Rakshya Bandhan, Janai Purnima, and Gai Jatra.
3. How do people celebrate Teej?
Women usually fast for the long life of their husbands, and spend the day singing and dancing to traditional Teej songs. They also dress up in red and green attire, and adorn themselves with henna tattoos. In some parts of Nepal, women also visit the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu to offer prayers.
4. What is the significance of Rakshya Bandhan?
Rakshya Bandhan celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters, and is a time for family and community gatherings. Sisters tie a rakhi on their brothers’ wrists, and in return, brothers promise to protect them from harm.
5. How is Gai Jatra celebrated?
Gai Jatra is a Newari festival that is celebrated in the Kathmandu Valley. Families who have lost a loved one in the past year parade through the streets with a cow or a boy dressed as a cow. The cow is believed to help the departed soul on its journey to the afterlife.
In conclusion, Nepali Calendar 2024 Shrawan is a time for cultural and religious celebrations, and is a time for family and community gatherings. Each festival and event in this month has its own unique traditions and rituals, and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy. I hope this article has provided you with a comprehensive guide to Nepali Calendar 2024 Shrawan, and has inspired you to learn more about Nepali culture and traditions.