Shrawan 15, Kheer Day In Nepal

KATHMANDU: JULY 30 – Today, Shrawan 15 (July 30) is being celebrated by eating Kheer (Rice Pudding) in Nepali society today. There is an ancient Nepali tradition of eating curd, beaten rice on the 15th of Ashad (June 29) and Kheer on the 15th of Shrawan (July 30) during the rainy season. Kheer is eaten as it is good for health during hot summer rains. Kheer, which is made by adding spices and other things to the milk, is believed to have a tradition of good health.

Prof. Dr Ram Chandra Gautam, a theologian and former chairman of the Nepal Panchang Judging Committee, said that Kheer called ‘Payas’ in Sanskrit language is considered as one of the best among the sattvic food. Known as the day at the end of rice planting, Shrawan month is considered the holy month. Among different festivals in Nepal, this day is also one of those festivals where the family and the relatives unite and reunites to share the joy and happiness of being in a family.

Kheer is a sweet rice pudding that is considered a pure and holy food. As delicious as it is, it is quite easy to prepare and is loved by all. On this day, families first offer kheer to their gods and then gather to feast on the delicious kheer.

Shrawan is the month of Lord Shiva. Since Shiva likes milk and milk products, sweets including Kheer are served methodically. That is why the practice of eating Kheer in the middle of summer may have started, said theologian Gautam. But it has no scriptural word. From the time of the sages, Brahmins who were invited to the patriarchal functions including shraddha were fed Kheer. Even today, the followers of Vedic Sanatan Culture make Kheer in cow’s milk on the day of shraddha.

During Ashad and Shrawan months, the farmers enjoy paddy farming and pray for a good harvest. Shrawan month is the end of the harvest period. On the 15th (fifteenth) of Shrawan month, people celebrate this day by worshipping the deities and by offering Kheer as Prasad. Kheer is considered as the purest and holy treat enjoying its delicious taste. Kheer day is the day of achievement for the farmers. There has been a religious belief that kheer should be offered to the deity.

Kheer is defined in the Nepali Comprehensive Dictionary as ‘rice cooked in milk, rice in milk, sugar, spices, etc., freshly cooked food, emulsion, tasmai’. In Nepali society, it has been a worldly custom to make curd, beaten rice on the 15th of Ashad (June 29) and kheer on the 15th of Shrawan (July 30), roasted maize on Bhadra 15 (August 31), ghee sour on Poush 15 (December 30), malpuwala and other items on Magh 15 (January 29) and invite friends and daughter Cheli and feed them.

According to the National Dairy Development Board, Kheer made from milk during the COVID-19 epidemic will develop immunity in the human body. A meeting of the board held on Falgun 15 (27 February) last year had decided to celebrate Shrawan 15 (July 31) as Kheer Day. According to Nepal’s food regulations, standard processed milk contains 3 per cent fat, 4.7 per cent lactose and 3.5 per cent protein, which gives 60 per cent calories per 100 grams of processed milk.