Hindu devotees across the country are celebrating Janai Purnima with much fanfare on Friday. Every year, the festival is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Shrawan.

The 'Taghadharis', bearer of the holy thread called Janai, take a bath in the nearest river or pond early in the morning and change the janai given by their priest.

Devotees also tie a sacred thread around their wrist on this day, which they believe purifies the soul and protects the body from evil. Many Hindus across the country flock to Gosaikunda, in Rasuwa district, to participate in an annual fair. In the valley and the southern plains, Nepalis also celebrate Rakshya Bandhan, a festival to celebrate the bond of love and affection between brothers and sisters.

On this day, especially among the Newa community, a special nine-bean soup, traditionally known as Kwati, is prepared as part of their meal. The soup, according to the community elders, provides much-needed warmth to the farmers, who spent the monsoon summer shin-deep in muddy water, planting crops in the fields.

Here are some photos of the festival celebration taken by Post’s photographer Elite Joshi.