Presenting the content of the Gunla festival in your mobile companion, Hamro Patro. Here in Nepal,
both the intoxication and the risk of rain are at their peak, and is the paddy planting finished?
As usual, news of landslides and floods construct major headlines with a tragic mortality rate. When the clouds rain like crazy, somewhere the stingy waters are staring ruthlessly flowing ahead with villages, hills, and dreams. Anyway, welcome to this month of the year and especially to the Gunlaparva which comes after the rainy season. During this Gunla month, the Gunla festival is celebrated exclusively in the Newa community and in some places where the Newa community is predominant, including the Kathmandu Valley.
The celebration of this festival is found to be more spiritual and contemplative in the Buddhist families of the community. Since Lord Buddha and his followers lived in the same place without traveling during the rainy season, this festival is also considered as a confluence of rain and knowledge. Especially in the Gunla festival celebrated by the Newar community, there is a tradition of going to see Lord Swayambhu in the morning. Today, special music can be heard at the crossroads of the Kathmandu Valley, while the number of devotees visiting various monasteries, temples, and spiritual places is high.
Bahidya: Swavanegu Newa: is a unique part of the culture where there are instruments and music first and then devotees march. Such Jhankis can be seen in abundance in the Kathmandu Valley. Dya: Thayegu is one of the special activities of today. Today, it is customary to make small stupas using raw black clay. In Kathmandu and Lalitpur, it is customary to carry a statue of Panjara, i.e. Buddha, and other saints, and khat (Chariot) representing God in the city, and to collect items such as rice, lentils from the community.
The Buddhist way is a philosophy advocating balance where spirituality, including charity and peace, is highly valued. The statues of Dipankar Buddha and Pauva are special on this day, although Gunla is not just a one-day festival. This festival is celebrated in different ways on different dates of the lunar tithis.
Let's draw the outlines of our daily routine in the open sky and clear clouds that come with the end of the rainy season. Good luck to all.
Suyog Dhakal
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