Devotees Mark Holy ‘Shrawan’ at Pashupatinath Temple

Marking the holy month of ‘Shrawan’, Nepali devotees thronged to the Pashupatinath Temple, today, to observe their ‘first Monday’ prayers in the month.

While the entire month is considered auspicious, devotees usually believe Monday as a special day for Lord’s worship during the holy month.

According to Bhola Sitaula, Director of the Pashupati Area Development Trust, devotees were seen queuing up from 2 am, although the three doors of the temple were opened at around 3:15 am.

More than 35,000 devotees have visited the temple for worship until 8 AM, he added.

Beads of red, green and yellow color combinations and mehndi on palms form a special attraction during the auspicious month.

While the sales of beads are usually high during the month, the bead sellers are experiencing low sales this year. According to Abbas, a bead seller, the current-year sales have decreased significantly.

While the sales are usually high in the months of Baishakh, Jestha, Ashadh, and Shrawan, in the current year, they were seen satisfactory, zero and below that in the first three months. So, the sellers are expecting good sales in Shrawan.

Apart from a religious angle, Shrawan is also considered as the month that marks the end of paddy cultivation in Nepal.