Gathamuga: Interesting stories behind strange rituals of Kathmandu’s annual monsoon festival

Today, the Newa community is celebrating Gathamuga, also spelt as Gathemangal, a local festival. Every year, Shrawan Krishna Chaturdashi (the 14th day of the waning moon in the Shrawan month) marks the festival. It is also known as Gathamuga Chahre or Ghantakarna Chaturdashi.

This is also considered the festival of keeping one’s house or surroundings clean and performing puja to ward off evil spirits.