Gunlaa Dharma (गुँला धर्म )

 Gunlaa Dharma (गुँला धर्म )

Gunla (also spelt Gumlā ) is the tenth month in the Nepal Sambat lunar calendar, the national lunar calendar of Nepal.

Gunla is a holy month for specially Newa Buddhists when they recite the scriptures, observe fasts and visit places of worship playing devotional music. It is one of the most important and very holy month in Newa Buddhism. All the activities like this done in this month is called as Gunla Dharma. Gunla Dharma starts from Gunlaathwo Paaru (गुँलाथ्व पारु) to Yanlaathwo Paaru (ञलाथ्व पारु).

Devotees mark the holy month by making daily early morning pilgrimages to Swayambhu Mahachaitya and Janbaha Dyo in

Kathmandu and other Buddhist temples in different parts of Kathmandu valley, playing

Gunla Bajan music. The musical groups from different communities and localities carry and represent various local and native musics, hymns and instruments. The devouts also recite the scriptures at home and sacred courtyards and some undergo fasting too. Another devotional activity during Gunla is Dyah Thāyegu (द्यः थायेगु) when devotees make little stupas out of black clay using a mold and pray it for a month and later its put in the river to mark the end.

The main musical instrument to play during Gunla are Dhaa(धाँ), Naubaja(नौबाजा), Muhaali(मुहाली) and Nyeku(न्यकू) but in present day , all communities from different localities play different traditional musical instrument which is one of a good way to promote and preserve traditional musical instrument.

Nyeku is an special musical instrument made out of wild buffalo horn. The special group from Patan also visits Swayambhu in a certain day and play Nau baja.

Another special and remarkable event during Gunla is Panjaran or Panchadaan(पन्जराँ / पञ्चदान). It is the alms giving festival. Males of the Bajracharya and Shakya community make an alms round of the city and devotees give them rice grains, money and other offerings. On the same time the shrines are set up with Buddha statues and paubha scroll paintings at private homes, courtyards and on the roadsides from where the gifts are distributed. The event is held on different dates in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur.

The next remarkable ceremony observed during Gunla is Bahi Dya Bwayegu (बहि द्यः ब्वेगु).On the first day of the second fortnight of Gunla, large images of the Dipankara Buddha and paubha paintings are put on display in sacred courtyards and this ceremony is known as Bahidyah Bwayegu. These statues and paintings are visited by different communities, which is known as Bahidyah Swahwanegu (बहीद्यः स्वःवनेगु), where the musical bands followed by residents of the locality visit the sacred courtyards in a procession to view the exhibits. The festival occurs on the day after the full moon and coincides with the Saa Paaru (सा-पारु) festival.

One of the intresting ceremony during Gunla is Chaa Chwo Wanegu (चा च्वँवनेगु). Chaa chwo wanegu literally means to stay overnight. This is observed just day before Panjara in Kathmandu is obsereved. On the very night, before Panjara, people from different places, specially from southern Lalitpur comes to visit Swayambhu at night and stays overnight. There is a tradition to visit Swayambhu overnight compulsorily for those families whose member have passed away in that year. The family member offers different offerings to deity there and they light up the oil lamp too. It is also believed , that on that night the replica of Swayambhu stupa comes on the sky as in the form of clouds. This is also known as " Ratnamandal Darshan" (रत्नमन्दः दर्शन )

Gunla Dharma has been one of the intresting, and important tradition that is still being carried out by new generations with joy and intrest. It is our responsibility now, to preserve our cultures and traditions so that they would be alive forver.

Notes :

1. Janbaha dya is a native name for Karunamaya who is known as Seto Machhindranath in present day .

Article : Frannkey Franz

Photo Credit : Prabin Buddhacharya

credit: Inherited heritage

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