Editorial photo #13964296 Human Interest

Markets In Nepal Set Abuzz With Arrival Of Sacred Month Of Shrawan

A Nepali woman selects beads from a local market in Kathmandu, Nepal, on July 15, 2026, as the Hindu month of Shrawan begins. Tri-colored beads, mehendi, and filings are worn by women in the capital at the start of Shrawan, which is devoted to Lord Shiva according to Hindu belief. Married and unmarried women fast on Mondays during this month, wearing sacred clothes; married women fast for the longer life of their husbands, while unmarried women pray to Lord Shiva for a suitable match. Sales of beads, mehendi, and filings typically increase with the start of Shrawan. The beads, stitched into threads, are imported from India, Pakistan, China, and other countries. Younger generations in Nepal are increasingly wearing mehendi and filings, which they consider stylish. Some women also paint their palms with mehendi as a test of the love level of their future husband. (Photo by Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto)