As Gunla begins in the Kathmandu Valley, traditional music fills the air, resonating with the legacy of generations. The ancient streets come alive before dawn as devotees embark on their daily pilgrimages, especially towards Swayambhu and other Buddhist shrines, including local Bahas and Bahis. Gunla is a sacred month-long festival celebrated by the Newar community.
It is the tenth month of the Nepal Sambat calendar and is observed from Gunlathwo Paru to Yanlathwo Paru. This year, Gunla, the holiest month in the entire year, began on August 5 and will end on September 4. Ras Joshi, a lecturer at Patan Multiple Campus, explains that Gunla is considered a month for acquiring merit, as the term itself is derived from two words in Nepal Bhasa, 'Guni' meaning merit and 'La' meaning month.
Gunla is also considered a sacred month of the year. Author Ratna Kaji Bajracharya, in his book ‘Gunla Dharma', mentions the tradition of studying nine sutras of Mahayana in Bahas, Bahis, and households during Gunla. In Nepal, Bhasa ‘nine’ is referred to as ‘Gun’; hence, the month is called Gunlathwo because of the reading of these nine sutras.
These sutras include Lankavatara, Pranjna Paramita, Saddharma Pundarika , Lalitavistara, Samadhi, Ghanavyuha, Dasabhumika, Suvarṇaprabhasa, and Tathagatagarbha. During Gunla, homes and Bihars transform into sanctuaries of sacred art and scripture as these sutras, ancient manuscripts, sacred images, and idols are brought out of their safekeepin.