The ongoing Gunla is a month-long festival celebrated by the Buddhist Newa community and some non-Buddhist Newa peoples. It marks a time of deep spiritual significance and cultural richness. According to the lunar calendar (Nepal Sambat), it begins on Shrawan Shukla Pratipada and ends on Pratipada, In the Gregorian calendar this is approximately mid-July to mid-August.
Gunla consists of two words: gun And The. gun is a short form of Weapon, Meaning Merits and t means month. Thus Gunla means month of merit. It is the first festival of the Neva community celebrated after the cessation of agriculture. This month-long festival is celebrated by playing various musical instruments around the Subscribegive daan (Donations) to the needy and praying daily with a pure heart, mind and intentions.
During this festival, a bad (musical instrument) called ‘dhah‘ which is played with a stick on one side and the hand on the other. This bad is also popularly called Gunla baja and is considered a favorite bad of the Buddha and brings luck and prosperity when it comes to Subscribe and temples.
Although the exact date of the festival’s beginning is unknown, it is believed that it has been celebrated since ancient times, with various myths explaining its origins. According to one myth, long ago, evil spirits and demons caused a disaster when Buddha was resting. People were disturbed and harassed by them. So they prayed and played various bajas to wake up Buddha, but nothing worked. Then they made a musical instrument made of buffalo horn called “Meku Baja” or “Nyeku Baja” and played it.
They made two different small, a small and a large one and played them while calling the names Triratna and Hari. When Buddha heard the unique music, he was so moved that he awoke from his sleep. In response, Buddha saved people from demons and evil spirits. To celebrate this event, a festival was created where children and elders gather to pray and worship Buddha. “I can only tell this story because my guru told it to me. Unfortunately, many people today do not know about it,” says Santalal Maharjan, guru of Nhuuchen Dafa Khala.
According to Buddhist mythology, King Swarnaketu and Queen Swarnawati ruled over a place called Swarnapur. They had five sons and the eldest, Pushpaketu, prayed and worshipped Buddha daily. When the prince asked Buddha what goodwill one could gain by worshipping and visiting Buddhist sites while playing Baja in the Gunla month Buddha replied that it would bring good virtue in both the present and future life. This is another reason for the beginning of the Gunla Festival.
According to another mythology, King Singha Ketu once ruled the land of Shashipatan with Queen Shulakshin. The king was very passionate about hunting and loved meat. The queen tried in many ways to stop the king from hunting, but she did not succeed. Later, the king died and the queen went to Saty.
Due to the goodwill of the queen, she was reborn as a Brahmin girl named Rukamati, while the king was reborn as a buffalo in the same household due to his sins in the past. One day, when Rukamati was feeding the buffalo, a divine light appeared and revealed that the buffalo was her husband from a previous life. From that moment on, she took very good care of the buffalo. However, one day, while it was grazing in the forest, the buffalo was attacked and eaten by a wild animal, leaving only its bones. Rukamati followed the divine light’s instructions and buried the buffalo’s remains and built a Subscribe (Stupa) on the burial site.
Then, throughout the Gunla Month she circumnavigated the Subscribe by calling the name of Triratna and playing music from the buffalo horn. As a result of her prayers and good virtue, a child appeared before the Chaitya. Later, she discovered that the child was her husband, King Singha Ketu, reincarnated. He told her that he was now free from his past sins and was born into a good family. Therefore, he advised everyone to pray and worship the child. Subscribe to gain goodwill and happiness, which is the beginning of the Gunla Festival.
During this festival, people do not eat meat, onions and garlic and purify themselves by bathing daily. The month is also an opportunity to give up bad habits, commit to good deeds and follow virtuous paths. People visit various Buddhist sites, perform puja and pray for the peace of the souls of the departed, including family members, relatives and even strangers who have passed away during the year.
Since the festival falls during the monsoon season, when natural disasters such as floods and landslides claim lives and diseases spread, people also pray to contain these disasters and ensure good health.
“Nowadays, the rituals have evolved according to people’s preferences and well-being and vary from place to place. In different areas of the Kathmandu Valley, the rituals are observed with some similarities,” says Bir Krishna Maharjan, a member of Nhhuchen Dafa Khala.
From day one GunlaPeople of all ages come together in the community and participate in processions from different corners of Kathmandu. These groups go to the Swayambhu Maha Chaitya early every morning and play traditional musical instruments as they pass by numerous Buddhist sites.
In Swayambhu they recite hymns called Tu: ta and offer Puja while watching the Subscribeand continue to play their instruments. Walking and making music together promotes mutual harmony and peace of mind and promotes family happiness, peace, prosperity and virtue among the participants.
However, not all Buddhists go to Swayambhu during Gunla; they would go somewhere else instead. Thus, the devotees of Patan mostly go to Karunamaya, Bungamati in the south, the devotees of Bhaktapur to Nala Karunamaya in the east, the devotees of Banepa to Namobudhha in the southeast and the devotees of Sankhu to Gumbaha or Bajrayogini in the northeast. People from the Kathmandu Valley and beyond visit Swayambhu during this festival at least once a month. Aasharam Maharjan, Guru of Nhuchen Dafa Khala, says, “Earlier, the custom of going to Syayambhu was not so popular, but now it is becoming increasingly popular.”
The Gunla Month is a month of festivals. Festivals like Gaijatra, MattyaFather’s Day, Naag Panchami etc. are celebrated in this month. All Buddhist religious activities like Name: Bwayegu from Kathmandu, Mattya from Patan, Baha Chahiligu from Kritipur, Panjran from Kathmandu, Dya Thyaagu And Paru Bhwe On the last day of the festival everyone is part of the Gunla Festival.
“After the month-long celebrations and prayers, the festival finally ends on Bhadra Shukla Pratipada when believers celebrate a festival called “Paru Bhwe” – Translation and visit the Karunamaya Temple of Bungamati, where various Baja dances are performed and a final prayer is said,” says Santalal.
He remembers the time when people went to Karunamaya Temple of Bungamati and spend the night there, do Bhajan (The Great Bhajan) until late at night and offers Puja to the God. But this ritual is not observed today as people are busy and have to go to work every day. Some devotees also visit the Swayambhu Maha Chaitya and celebrate by playing music, worshipping and having a feast.
This ancient and important festival harmonizes the people and promotes peace and prosperity. Such festivals are a testament to Nepal’s rich culture and traditions, which are carried on by the younger generations. “We are happy to see the active participation of the younger generation in these festivals and their interest in learning various traditional musical instruments,” says Maharjan.
In addition to traditional myths, these festivals also have practical aspects that encourage people to work together, promoting a healthy environment and greater well-being.
