KATHMANDU: The festival of Janai Purnima, also known as Rishi Tarpani, is being celebrated across the country today.
Primarily observed by Hindus, the festival marks the ritual changing of the Janai—the sacred thread worn across the chest by Tagadhari men (wearers of the thread). On this day, they undergo a ritual bath and haircut before replacing the old thread with a new one.
As part of the tradition, Hindus also receive the Raksha Bandhan thread—an amulet tied around the wrist by Brahmin priests, symbolizing protection from fear, illness, and evil. The yellow thread is sanctified through the chanting of Vedic mantras.
The Newar community observes the day as Kwanti Purnima, marked by the preparation of Kwanti—a nutritious soup made from nine types of sprouted beans, considered both a delicacy and a seasonal health food.
In the Tarai region, the day is celebrated as Raksha Bandhan, where sisters tie decorative Rakhis around the wrists of their brothers, praying for their long life and prosperity.
Thousands of devotees also visit Lord Shiva temples, including Pashupatinath in Kathmandu and Kumbheshwar in Lalitpur, to offer prayers and take ritual dips in sacred rivers, lakes, and ponds.
Major religious fairs are being held at Gosainkunda in Rasuwa, Dansanghu in Jumla, and other pilgrimage sites. Devotees travel from far and wide to take a holy dip in Gosainkunda and nearby alpine lakes.
Other locations hosting religious gatherings today include Manichud and Pashupati in Kathmandu; Kumbheshwar in Lalitpur; Panchpokhari in Sindhupalchowk; Janakpurdham, Dhanush Sagar, and Ganga Sagar in Dhanusha; Dansanghu in Jumla; and Trivenidham in Nawalparasi.
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