Gunla is a
month long festival that is celebrated by Nepali Buddhists,
particularly the Jyapu farmers. It comes at a time when the main
agricultural work of planting the rice is over, and the farmers have
free time to perform religious practices. This holy month also
coincides with the traditional period of the monsoon retreat, when the
Buddha and his monks did not wander about, but stayed in one place,
practicing meditation. It was practical not to move around during
the rains, and also the proliferation of insects and worms in the soil
made it difficult walk without causing suffering to sentient
beings.
In Kathmandu most people go to Swayambhunath temple every morning. Many start as early as 4:00 in the morning playing traditional musical instruments like drums, flutes and cymbals.
They spin the prayer wheels around the hill and around the stupa. Then they pray before the image of Buddhist and stop at the temple of Sitala Ajima, Goddess of Smallpox.
In Kathmandu most people go to Swayambhunath temple every morning. Many start as early as 4:00 in the morning playing traditional musical instruments like drums, flutes and cymbals.
This is a month
for fasting, pilgrimages, penances and obstinence from meat, alcohol
etc. according to one's wishes. The fesival starts fifteen days prior
to the full moon in August or early September and
lastes until the fifteen days that come after. The crowds begin to swell as more devotees arrive.
lastes until the fifteen days that come after. The crowds begin to swell as more devotees arrive.
They spin the prayer wheels around the hill and around the stupa. Then they pray before the image of Buddhist and stop at the temple of Sitala Ajima, Goddess of Smallpox.
The visit to the supa is always in
the early morning and by mid-morning most are back at their daily
chores or at their jobs.
During the month priests are invited to pray and recited the Buddha's teachings. Devout Buddhist read from holy manurscripts and sing hyms.
During the month priests are invited to pray and recited the Buddha's teachings. Devout Buddhist read from holy manurscripts and sing hyms.
Musical bands go out on the
streets playing their drums and fluites. These bands are well organized
and many are obliged by family traditions to play in such group druing
festivals.
In the evening hymns are sung in the vihors, It is also during Gunla that the popular Panchen Daan (Five offerings) ceremony is held in Patan. This is the ceremony of offering the devout "beggings monks" five kind of food. This commemorates the day Prince Siddhartha (who later becomes the Buddha) started on his life as an ascestic. Feast are held in honour of the revered mondks. Large statues of Buddha and relics are displayed in the important squares.
In the evening hymns are sung in the vihors, It is also during Gunla that the popular Panchen Daan (Five offerings) ceremony is held in Patan. This is the ceremony of offering the devout "beggings monks" five kind of food. This commemorates the day Prince Siddhartha (who later becomes the Buddha) started on his life as an ascestic. Feast are held in honour of the revered mondks. Large statues of Buddha and relics are displayed in the important squares.
Mataya, the Newari festival of
lights also takes place during Gunla.
Also during Gunla many Buddhist
housewives make small images of Buddha from clay. They are said to make
as many as 125,000 of them by the end of the holy month. They are then
taken in a procession to the river chanting hymns. The votive images
are discarded after completing yhe rituals. Many other festivals, such
as Nag Panchami (july 26) and Gaijatra (August 6) fall within this
month and they are celebrated simultaneously.
The day after Gunla is finally over, a massive picnic takes place at the Swayambhunath hillside. A huge crowd of devotees assembles here to spend the day enjoying an all day feast and merrymaking accompanied by plenty of music.
The day after Gunla is finally over, a massive picnic takes place at the Swayambhunath hillside. A huge crowd of devotees assembles here to spend the day enjoying an all day feast and merrymaking accompanied by plenty of music.
Love and pranams,
Billy
Billy