Hindus are celebrating the ‘Janai Purnima’ festival across the country on Wednesday.

A Hindu man changing Janai (sacred thread) marking the Janai Purnima at Pashaupati, Wednesday, Aug 09 06. nepalnews.com/rh

On the occasion, ‘Tagadhari Hindus’ change the Janai or the sacred thread today after having a haircut and holy dips in ponds and rivers.

People also receive the ‘Rakshya Bandhan’ thread around their wrist from a Brahmin priest.

The ‘Rakshya Bandhan’ thread is purified by mantras from Vedas and is regarded a symbol of protection, according to Hindu belief.

The Newar community observe the festival as ‘Gunhu Punhi’ while Gurung and Thakali community observe Yatung mela (fair) in the premises of Mukninath temple in Mustang on this day. During the fair, exhibition of local goods and horse races are performed.

On the occasion, people consume ‘Kwati’- a soup prepared from nine different beans. In the Terai, sisters tie Rakhis to their brother’s wrist wishing them a long and prosperous life.

In Kathmandu valley, devotees worship lord Shiva at Pashupatinath and Kumbheswor in Lalitpur. Religious fairs are held in Gosaikunda in Rasuwa, Triveni in Jumla, among others.

A large number of people could be seen thronging to Pashupatinath temple and other temples of the capital to receive the ‘Rakshya Bandhan’.