Janai Purnima

The most distinct thing about the Janai Purnima festival is related to Janai which is a cotton string worn across the chest by a Hindu Brahmin male. This particular thread is given to the male only after a religious ceremony called Bratabandha. Bratabandha is basically a formal process of accepting someone into the religion. So on the day of Janai Purnima this Janai is changed and a new one is adorned. These janais are also tied to one's wrist. Non-Brahmins don't have the janai across the chest, they only wear it on their wrist. The priest ties these janais to the wrist or around the chest by reciting prayers (mantras) asking the gods to protect the person against mishaps. Janai Purnima also goes by the name of Rakhsya Bandhan where Rakshya means "protection" (not the modern day kind of 'protection' dummy!). In India, sisters tie a sacred thread on their brother's wrist. The devotees also take a dip in a holy river. In the case of all the modernized Nepalese Hindu, they simply take a shower. The janai that you get on Janai Purnima needs to be tied to a cow's tail on the day of another festival (Laxmi Puja during Tihar, or festival of lights). Hindus believe that in order to reach heaven, they need to cross a river Baitarni after death. By tieing the janai to the cow's tail, the cow will help the dead cross the river. Sounds weird but it is true. We have seen it. No, not really. Devotees flock to Muktinath to coincide with the Janai Purnima where a huge fair (mela) is arranged. Here are the predicted dates for the upcoming five years (dates may not be 100% accurate so it is wise to confirm when the festival nears): 2017: 7 August, Monday 2018: 26 August, Sunday 2019: 15 August, Thursday 2020: 3 August, Monday 2021: 22 August, Sunday