Swasthani Brata Katha Festival

स्वस्थानी ब्रत कथा उत्सव

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Religious & SpiritualSankhu/Shalinadi
DatesDates TBA · Usually WinterCheck locally before booking
DurationWinterEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCeremony, pilgrimageFew Nepali festivals are built around a
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: NPR
CategoryReligious & SpiritualFestival type
The story

Swasthani Brata Katha Festival in Sankhu/Shalinadi

The Swasthani Brata Katha Festival is a month-long Hindu observance in which families recite one chapter each night of a 31-chapter sacred text honoring the goddess Swasthani. It is observed most intensely in the Newar town of Sankhu, where devotees fast and bathe daily in the Salinadi River.

In the town of Sankhu, sixteen kilometers east of Kathmandu, a handwritten manuscript in the Nepal Bhasa language has anchored one of Nepal's most distinctive religious practices for centuries.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Few Nepali festivals are built around a single recited text the way this one is

02

The mystery stays covered

The Swasthani Brata Katha, first written around 1573 by Jayanta Dev in Newari and later popularized in Nepali translation, is read one chapter per night across a full lunar month, so that families across Nepal, not just in Sankhu, gather each evening to hear the next installment of the story of the goddess Swasthani and her connection to Shiva

03

The city starts moving

In Sankhu itself, the practice is anchored physically: devotees take a daily ritual bath in the Salinadi River for the entire month, a level of sustained, place-based devotion that distinguishes Sankhu's observance from the text's reading in households elsewhere

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Rooted in Newar devotional literature originating in Sankhu

Water and renewal

Living ritual

blending Shaivism and Vaishnavism through the joint worship of the goddess Swasthani and the god Madhavnarayan

The sacred route

Living ritual

historically observed by particular Newar castes and now practiced by Hindu devotees from all communities and regions of Nepal

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually Winter

Getting around

Base the route around Sankhu/Shalinadi; confirm local transport, road controls or venue access close to the day.

What to wear

Modest clothing suitable for riverside ritual bathing in cold winter water, since the festival falls in January and February; warm layers for the walk to and from the Salinadi River in early...

Safety

Watch local behavior before photographing, filming, or entering sacred spaces.

Where to stay

Stay near Sankhu/Shalinadi or a practical transport base if you want a simpler arrival and return.

Tickets/cost

Public ritual moments are often free, but donations, transport, or temple access may vary.

Language/currency

NPR

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map27.70 N, 85.32 EOpen in Google Maps

Sankhu/Shalinadi, Bagmati Province, Nepal

Nearest airportKTM — Tribhuvan
TransportBase the route around Sankhu/Shalinadi; confirm local transport, road controls or venue access close to the day.
Stay areaStay near Sankhu/Shalinadi or a practical transport base if you want a simpler arrival and return.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Sankhu/Shalinadi via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Sankhu/Shalinadi, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for festival season.Compare faresFestival gearModest clothing suitable for riverside ritual bathing in cold winter water, since the festival falls in January and February; warm layers for the walk to and from the Salinadi River in early morning chill.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Nepal and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Swasthani Brata Katha Festival?

Swasthani Brata Katha Festival is listed for Multiple months · Winter. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Swasthani Brata Katha Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Sankhu/Shalinadi, Nepal. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Winter is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Sankhu/Shalinadi, Bagmati Province, Nepal

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLkathmandupost.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually Winter
Source statusOfficial source linked
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