Saune Sankranti / Luto Falne Din

 Saune Sankranti / Luto Falne Din

 

Introduction

Nepal is rich in cultural diversity and many festivals based on different religions among such countless festivals Saune Sankranti is one of them. Word ''Sankranti'' refers to the transferal of sun to Capricorn sign. Saune Sankranti falls annually in the Nepali month, Shravan which is in the middle of July. This month also can be called as the month of praying lord Shiva, Mahadev. Hindu devotees visit different shiv temples for praying and doing puja of Shiva. It is believed that fasting and worshiping Mahadev is auspicious and praying god Shiva brings blessings to the family.

Some Hindu followers mostly newly married women observed fast and perform puja of goddess Gauri for the long life of their husband whereas unmarried girls keep the fast for wishing to get good husband. Fasting on every Monday of Shravan month is kept for lord Shiva, meanwhile Mangala Gauri fasting is observed on every Tuesday in Shravan. For a whole Shravan month you could see most of the girls wearing henna and three colored bangles on their hands in temples, on social media sites and so on. This months is special for women in which she could apply henna as much as wish, she can wear bangles(Chura) of three different color  i.e red, yellow and green.   

 

Luto Falne Din

Based on Nepalese tradition, Shravan months is said to be the months of cleaning and removing dirty things from home. People specially from villages collect plant such as shiru leaves, Bhalayo and kurla- kurilo leaves from jungle and at night male member of the family does puja and throws away the lighted firewood by shouting'' luto laijja''. Luto means scabies so luto falne din is the Nepalese tradition which is celebrated every year so that we won't suffer from scabies throughout the year.

 

Religious tale 

When we study the myths it is said to be a various belief of battle between gods and demons in which important topic to talk is about Samundra Manthan (churning of the ocean) that took place in Shravan month which was done in search of amrit (holy water for immortality). During Samundra Manthan fourteen rubies were emerged in which thirteen was distributed to demons and one poison rubi as leftover and in order to avoid disastrous outcome lord Shiva drank it and stored it in his throat as it couldn't be swallowed. Poisoned rubi made his throat blue so Mahadev was given a name Neekantha (blue throat).

 

How Shravan is celebrated?

During this month married Hindu woman keep fast on every Monday for whole month and avoid non-veg item and prays lord Shiva for the long life of their husbands. They wear red, green, yellow bangles and wear green beads string believing for the fulfilment of their desires as well for the betterment of family. On the other hands unmarried girls observed fast with a wish of getting good husband. The main attraction for the married woman and unmarried girls in the Shravan Sankranti is mixed color bangles and henna on the hands.

 

 Bol Bom

In Shravan months we could see Bol Bom - pilgrimage wearing yellow and orange  clothes in most the Shiv temple as well as on our way to temple. They walk barefoot along with Bol Bom prayers when they visit different temples. It is believed that bol bom yatra gives good health, wealth, and happiness in the family. Bol Bom is basically a long walk that is observed for a whole month in bare foot for the devotion of Lord Shiva by his devotees.   

 

Conclusion

In a nutshell, Saune Sankranti is one the festivals which is slowly and gradually losing its values and norms which is a major concern and should be taken seriously. Saune Sankranti and Luto Falne Din carries religious value and it should be protected by us. Shravan is the month of devotion towards lord Shiva. Festival is the thing that connects people together where near one exchange gifts, feelings, happiness and many more and we must value the importance of festival in every way possible. In Nepal, almost every month carries various major or minor festivals which has hold the cultural norms and values for all Nepali. Happy Saune Sankranti to all.