Janai Purnima & Kumbheshwar Mela
Nepal's Sacred Thread festival, marked by the huge Kumbheshwar Mela at Patan's 14th-century Kumbheshwar Temple on 28 August 2026. Devotees bathe in the sacred ponds, priests tie protective threads, and shamans perform ancient rites.
About this event
Janai Purnima, the Sacred Thread Festival, falls on the full moon of the Nepali month of Shrawan and in 2026 is observed on Friday, 28 August. Hindu men, particularly Brahmins and Chhetris, ritually replace their janai (sacred thread) after bathing, while people of all communities have a yellow protective thread (raksha bandhan / doro) tied around the wrist by priests.
In Patan (Lalitpur), the day centres on the Kumbheshwar Mela at the 14th-century Kumbheshwar Temple, one of Patan's oldest Shiva temples. Tens of thousands of devotees gather to worship a richly decorated lingam placed on a platform in the middle of the temple's sacred pond, believed to be fed from Gosainkunda Lake, and to take ritual dips. Shamans (jhankris) from across the valley converge here to perform their ancient rites, and the temple precinct fills with makeshift stalls, music and food, making it one of the largest community gatherings of the year.
The festival is free, public and open to all; the busiest hours are through the morning into the afternoon. It also coincides with Kwati Punhi, when households eat a soup of nine sprouted beans.
Location
Kumbheshwar Temple, PatanKumbheshwar Temple complex, Patan (Lalitpur), Nepal
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