Swasthani Barta (Fast) is a month-long Hindu fasting and devotional observance practiced primarily in Nepal, dedicated to the goddess Shree Swasthani, a Hindu deity (Parameshwari) associated with good fortune, welfare, and power. The observance is also referred to as Swasthani Brata.
Overview
The Swasthani Barta is an annual ritual that begins on the full moon day (Purnima) of the Poush month and concludes on the full moon day of the Magh month of the Bikram Sambat (Nepali) calendar, typically falling between January and February. The observance lasts approximately one month and is marked by daily fasting, prayer, and the recitation of the Swasthani Brata Katha.
Swasthani Brata Katha
The Swasthani Brata Katha is a Hindu devotional text recited daily throughout the month of the observance. The text comprises 31 chapters that narrate the stories of various gods and goddesses, with particular focus on the goddess Swasthani and the god Shiva. The goddess Swasthani is regarded in the tradition as a deity capable of granting wishes made in a solemn state by the pure.
The sacred text is believed to have originated in the Nepal Mandala (the Kathmandu Valley). Its narrative is considered to be derived from the Linga Purana or the Skanda Purana. An 1819 CE manuscript of the Swasthani text written in the Newar language exists, and the original Newar version differs somewhat from the version written in the Nepali language. Residents of the town of Sankhu hold a handwritten manuscript of the text in Nepal Bhasa.
Observances and Practices
During the month-long observance, family members gather each night to recite one chapter of the Swasthani Brata Katha until all 31 chapters are completed. The fast is undertaken primarily by women, though some men also participate, for purposes such as family welfare or the seeking of a suitable spouse.
The festival concludes with an Ashwamegha Yagya, during which devotees worship the god Shiva throughout the night. At the conclusion, various foods are prepared, and it is traditionally held that items should number 108 pieces, including flowers. Of the 108 pieces, eight are to be given to the husband; if there is no husband, to a son; if no son, to the son of a friend; and if no friend, the fasting woman formally releases the items into a nearby river.
Historical and Cultural Context
The ritual is called "apsan chonegu" in the local Nepal Bhasa language and "brata" in Nepali. Traditionally, the observance was undertaken by the local residents of the Kathmandu Valley, including the Newar localities of Sankhu, Bhaktapur, Patan, Kathmandu, Banepa, Panauti, and Pharping, particularly among certain Newar castes. In contemporary practice, devotees are not limited to the Newar community; participants come from across Nepal and from various Hindu castes, with increasing participation from Brahmin and Chhetri communities.
During the Brata, the god Madhavnarayan is also worshipped. The observance is considered a blend of Shaivism and Vaishnavism, as Madhavnarayan is a name of Vishnu associated with the month of Magh.
Significance
The Swasthani Barta is regarded as a significant cultural and religious event in Nepal. The goddess Swasthani is worshipped at the Shree Swasthani temple in Sankhu, near Kathmandu, which serves as a central site for the observance. The ritual is considered more a month-long fasting ceremony than a typical festival, and it holds particular importance within Nepali Hindu religious life.
