Nepalis Celebrate Saur Sankranti with Traditional Rites

Nepalis have celebrated Saur Sankranti, a traditional festival marking the beginning of the monsoon season, with various rituals and customs.

As per tradition, people lit fires and burned medicinal plants, including Luto, to ward off skin diseases caused by the monsoon rains. The ritual, known as Luto Falne, is performed in the evening of Saur Sankranti.

According to Hindu scholars, the festival is celebrated to mark the beginning of the monsoon season, which is crucial for farming. Most Nepalis are engaged in farming during the monsoon season, and the festival is a way to seek protection from diseases that come with the rains.

The festival also marks the beginning of the Dakshinayana, a period when the sun moves towards the southern hemisphere. The day is considered auspicious, and people celebrate it with family gatherings and traditional foods.

Saur Sankranti and Lord Shiva

The month of Saur is considered sacred for the worship of Lord Shiva. Women wear green clothes and ornaments to symbolize the greenery and fertility of the monsoon season.

According to Hindu scholar Dr. Devmani Bhattarai, the month of Saur is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and the day is considered a special day for his worship. The Pashupatinath Temple, a major Shiva shrine in Kathmandu, sees a large number of devotees during the month of Saur.

The festival is celebrated across the country, with people visiting Shiva temples and performing traditional rituals and customs.