Swasthani Brata Katha
स्वस्थानी व्रत कथा
January 22, 2027 – February 20, 2027 · Magh 8 – Falgun 8, 2083 BS
Nationwide (Sankhu especially)
Plan a trip around Swasthani Brata KathaHistory & origin
The Swasthani Brata Katha manuscript tradition dates back several centuries in the Kathmandu Valley, blending goddess-worship with the Shiva-Parvati narrative also central to Teej; its month-long household reading cycle is considered one of the more literary and text-centered observances in Nepali Hindu practice.
How it’s celebrated
Observant households read one chapter of the Swasthani Katha aloud each day for the full lunar month, often as a family activity in the evening, while many devotees undertake a stricter fast, bathe daily in cold water, and eat only once a day. Sankhu's Salinadi riverbank draws large numbers of pilgrims for ritual bathing throughout the month, especially at its start and close.
Tips for visitors
Sankhu is worth visiting if you want to see the observance at its most intense — expect crowds of pilgrims bathing in the Salinadi river through the month, especially on the opening and closing days.
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