22 Aug, Kathmandu . On the occasion of Shravan Shukla Poornima, the people from the hill communities are celebrating Rakshabandhan, Janai Poornima and Rishitarpani, the Madhesi community is celebrating Rakhi festival while the Newar community is celebrating Gunhupunhi festival. One of the months in Nepal Sambat from Gunlathwa Paru to Nlathwa Paru is Gunla i.e. the ninth month. Accordingly, it is called ‘Gunhupunhi’ in Newari. On the occasion of Gunhupunhi, the Newar community has a tradition of eating a delicacy made with a mixture of at least nine different types of beans. It is said that the same practice has spread from the Newar community to other communities as well. Locally called Quanti, it is made up of a mixture of at least nine types of beans. Prof. Dr. Purushottam Lochan Shrestha, a culture expert, said that hot nutritious food refreshes the body during the rainy season and planting season in the Newar community. “There is a unique combination of food science and nature in Newari culture. The Newar community celebrates seasonal festivals and eats food accordingly. An example of this is the practice of eating quanti on Shravan Shukla Purnima, he said. On the occasion of Gunhupunhi, the Newar community, like the Khas and Arya communities, has a tradition of tying the Rakshasutra. The Newar community, on the other hand, has a tradition of tying thread with Panchatatva. It is believed to protect one against from the fear of ghosts, phantoms, vampires and death. According to Om Dhaubhadel, a cultural expert, the Newar community has a tradition of making the sacred thread by Tantric method and tying them by Vedic method.
