janai

Janai is the sacred thread worn by many Hindu adherents in Nepal and parts of India as part of the Upanayana rite. In Nepali and several North Indian languages, the term janai denotes this sacred cord, while the formal Sanskrit name for the practice is yajnopavita. The thread is a visible symbol of the wearer’s spiritual duties and commitments within the Hindu tradition.

The janai is typically made of cotton and consists of three strands. It is blessed in a initiation ceremony by a priest and is draped over the left shoulder across the chest, or in a manner customary to a specific community. Wearing the janai signifies adherence to certain vows, including duties to the divine, to ancestors, and to the surrounding community. The thread is renewed periodically, often in conjunction with ritual calendar events.

Janai Purnima is a major festival associated with the janai. It occurs on the full moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Shravana (summer in the Hindu calendar). On this day, many wearers renew their janai, perform cleansing rituals, and visit rivers or temples to receive blessings. The festival holds particular prominence among Nepalese Hindus, including Brahmin and Chhetri communities, and it features regional variations in practice and emphasis.

Cultural context and practice surrounding the janai can vary by community, but the thread consistently serves as a public marker of initiation, spiritual obligations, and Hindu identity. The concept remains closely tied to traditional rites of passage, ritual discipline, and the ongoing maintenance of personal and family religious duties.