Dilā (Nepal Bhasa: 𑐡𑐶𑐮𑐵, दिला) is the ninth month in the Nepal Era calendar, the national lunar calendar of Nepal. The month coincides with Āsāṛh (आषाढ) in the Hindu lunar calendar and roughly aligns with July in the Gregorian calendar.
Dilā begins with the new moon and the full moon falls on the 15th of the lunar month. The month is divided into the bright and dark fortnights which are known as Dilā Thwa (दिला थ्व) and Dilā Gā (दिला गा) respectively.
Among the major events of the month, the 11th day of the bright fortnight is Hari Sayani Ekādashi which marks the beginning of the Hindu deity Vishnu's four-month cosmic sleep. On the 12th day, devotees plant the Tulsi plant (Holy basil) in their homes. The plant represents Vishnu.
The full moon day is Guru Purnimā when teachers are honored. The holiday is also known as Dilā Punhi and is sacred to Buddhists as the day when the Buddha gave his first sermon and set in motion the Dharmacakra, the Wheel of Dharma. The first day of the dark fortnight is the start of Vassa, the three-month rains retreat for Buddhist monks when they remain in their monasteries.
The festival of Gathān Mugah Charhe (गथां मुगः चह्रे) is celebrated on the 14th day of the dark fortnight when evil spirits are chased out of the city limits.
Days in the month
Thwa (थ्व) or Shukla Paksha(bright half) Gā (गा) or Krishna Paksha(dark half) 1. Pāru 1. Pāru 2. Dwitiyā 2. Dwitiyā 3. Tritiyā 3. Tritiyā 4. Chauthi 4. Chauthi 5. Panchami 5. Panchami 6. Khasti 6. Khasti 7. Saptami 7. Saptami 8. Ashtami 8. Ashtami 9. Navami 9. Navami 10. Dashami 10. Dashami 11. Ekādashi 11. Ekādashi 12. Dwādashi 12. Dwādashi 13. Trayodashi 13. Trayodashi 14. Chaturdashi 14. Charhe (चह्रे) 15. Punhi (पुन्हि) 15. Āmāi (आमाइ)
Months of the year Devanagari script Roman script Corresponding Gregorian month Name of Full Moon 1. कछला KachhalāNovemberSaki Milā Punhi, Kārtik Purnimā2. थिंलाThinlāDecemberYomari Punhi, Dhānya Purnimā3. पोहेला PohelāJanuaryMilā Punhi, Paush Purnimā4. सिल्लाSillāFebruarySi Punhi, Māghi Purnimā5. चिल्लाChillāMarchHoli Punhi, Phāgu Purnimā6. चौला ChaulāAprilLhuti Punhi, Bālāju Purnimā7. बछला BachhalāMaySwānyā Punhi, Baisākh Purnimā8. तछला Tachhalā JuneJyā Punhi, Gaidu Purnimā9. दिल्लाDilāJulyDilā Punhi, Guru Purnimā10. गुंलाGunlā AugustGun Punhi, Janāi Purnimā (Raksha Bandhan)11. ञला YanlāSeptemberYenyā Punhi, Bhādra Purnimā12. कौला KaulāOctoberKatin Punhi, Kojāgrat Purnimā
References