Kaulā (Nepal Bhasa: कौला) is the twelfth month in the Nepal Era calendar, the national lunar calendar of Nepal. The month coincides with Ashvin (अश्विन्) in the Hindu lunar calendar and overlaps with October and November in the Gregorian calendar.
Kaulā 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 Kaulā Thwa (कौला थ्व) and Kaulā Gā (कौला गा) respectively.
Kaulā is a festive month. On the third day of the bright fortnight, masked dances of the Goddess Rudrayani are performed in Khokna, a village to the south of Kathmandu.
The greatest event of the month is Dasain, known as Mohani in Nepal Mandala. It is the longest religious celebration in the country, starting from the 1st day of the bright fortnight and continuing till the full moon day. However, the main celebrations last for four days from the 8th to the 11th days. The festivities consist of religious services in the clan's shrine house, family feasts, sword processions and masked dances of deities.
The 13th day of the dark fortnight is the start of another great festival Tihar or Swanti. The first two days are dedicated to crows and dogs respectively. The 15th day is Lakshmi Puja when households worship the goddess of wealth in their private shrines. The day is also the last day of the lunar Nepal Era, and traditionally merchants closed their accounting books.
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. दिल्लाDillāJulyDillā Punhi, Guru Purnimā10. गुंलाGunlā AugustGun Punhi, Janāi Purnimā (Raksha Bandhan)11. ञला YanlāSeptemberYenyā Punhi, Bhādra Purnimā12. कौला KaulāOctoberKatin Punhi, Kojāgrat Purnimā
References