Gunla Festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal: Experience a Month of Newar Buddhist Tradition

There are some festivals in Nepal that you simply watch.

And then there are festivals that you walk through, listen to, participate in and feel.

Gunla Parva is one of them.

For an entire month, the historic towns of the Kathmandu Valley take on a different rhythm. Early in the morning, the sound of traditional Gunla Bajan moves through old streets and courtyards. Devotees visit Buddhist shrines, bahas and chaityas, offering prayers, making pilgrimages and performing acts of generosity.

In Bhaktapur, where ancient Newar settlements, Buddhist courtyards and living traditions remain woven into everyday life, Gunla offers a rare opportunity to experience the city beyond its famous squares and monuments.

At Nepal in Style, we invite travellers to experience Gunla not simply as a festival to photograph, but as a living cultural experience in Bhaktapur.

What is Gunla Parva?

The word Gunla is traditionally associated with Guna, meaning the accumulation of virtue and merit. The name is also believed to have evolved through a connection with Swayambhu and the traditional name Gongri or Gongrung Parvat, developing through Gunya into Gunla.

The month is deeply connected with Buddhist spiritual practice. Devotees use this period for daily worship, prayers, meditation, fasting and circumambulation of Buddhist shrines and chaityas.

At its heart, Gunla is about cultivating virtue, compassion, discipline and generosity.

This is what makes the festival particularly meaningful: the traditions are not performed simply for an audience. They are part of the spiritual and social life of the community.

Gunla in Bhaktapur: When the Old City Comes Alive

Bhaktapur is known for its medieval squares, temples, traditional houses and narrow brick-paved streets. During Gunla, however, the experience of the city goes beyond its architecture.

The sounds of traditional instruments can be heard as devotees gather for religious activities. People visit Buddhist courtyards, bahas and bahis, make offerings, chant prayers and walking around the shrine and sacred spaces.

The city becomes a place where music, faith, architecture and community life meet.

For visitors, this creates a chance to see Bhaktapur not simply as a UNESCO heritage destination, but as a living cultural landscape.

Gunla Bajan: The Sound of a Sacred Month

One of the most distinctive elements of Gunla is Gunla Baja, traditional Newar Buddhist music associated closely with the month.

The tradition has deep Buddhist roots. According to the cultural history presented by Gunla Baja Khala, musical traditions associated with instruments similar to Dhaa Baja have connections with Buddhist traditions and stories from the period of Siddhartha Gautama. The name later evolved into Gunla Baja during the Malla period, reflecting its close association with Gunla and its religious traditions.

The group of traditional instruments includes :

• Dhaa
• Taa
• Bhushyaa
• Chhusyaa
• Nayaa Khah
• Karnal / Karna
• Trumpet

The traditional musical patterns also includes different rhythmic patterns and taals, including Dholayaegu, Chho Taal, Pra Taal, Jati, Palema, Astara, Lantaal and Gwara.

The Gunla Bajan tradition of Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur continues to preserve several historic Gunla Baja groups.

Among those highlighted in the Gunla Parva presentation are:

Bishwakarma Gunla Baja Khala – more than 100 years old

Indrayani Gunla Baja Khala – more than 100 years old

Kwoneya Gunla Baja Khala – established in B.S. 1978 and more than 100 years old.

These musical groups represent more than a performance tradition. They are part of the cultural continuity that keeps Gunla alive.

A Month of Merit, Prayer and Generosity

Gunla encourages devotees to dedicate time to spiritual practice.

Daily activities can include:

• Visiting Buddhist shrines and chaityas
• Walking around of bahas and bahis
• Meditation and chanting
• Recitation of Buddhist religious texts
• Acts of charity and merit-making
• Construction and restoration of chaityas
• Traditional musical performances
• Observance of the Panchasheel

Devotees also visit important Buddhist pilgrimage sites including Swayambhu, Boudhanath and Namo Buddha.

For travellers interested in Buddhist culture, these traditions offer a deeper way to understand Nepal beyond its famous monuments.

Panchadan: The Tradition of Giving

Another important tradition connected with Gunla is Panchadan, a practice centred around generosity and giving.

The word Panjara or Panchadan is explained through Pan, meaning earth, and Ja, referring to birth or origin. In this interpretation, Panchadan represents giving grains, food and other offerings that originate from the earth.

But Panchadan is more than an offering.

It expresses a simple yet powerful idea:

What comes from the earth is shared with others.

The tradition encourages generosity, compassion and service within the community.

Dipankara Buddha and Gunla

The figure of Dipankara Buddha has a special place in Gunla and Panchadan traditions.

Dipankara is traditionally regarded as an ancient Buddha who lived long before Shakyamuni Gautama Buddha. He is also associated with the traditional prediction of the appearance of Gautama Buddha.

During Gunla and Panchadan, devotees create and worship large images of Dipankara Buddha and make offerings.

For visitors, learning about Dipankara adds another layer to understanding the Buddhist traditions that continue to shape the cultural life of the Kathmandu Valley.

Major Festivals and Observances During Gunla

Gunla is connected with several important religious and cultural observances.

These include:

• Nag Panchami
• Yala Panchadan
• Gunhi Punhi
• Khwo Pa Panchadan
• Baha/Bahi Puja

Yala Panchadan is observed on the eighth day of the bright fortnight of Shrawan, while Khwo Pa Panchadan is observed on the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight of Bhadra.

This calendar makes Gunla particularly interesting for travellers because there is no single “Gunla experience.” Different days reveal different aspects of the tradition.

Gunla and Bhaktapur’s Living Heritage

One of the most beautiful ways to experience Gunla is to look beyond the large monuments.

Walk through the smaller courtyards.

Listen to the musicians.

Watch devotees making their daily visits.

Look at the relationship between the Buddhist shrines and the traditional neighbourhoods.

Notice how people of different generations participate.

This is where the meaning of living heritage becomes clear.

Bhaktapur’s heritage is not only found in its temples and palaces. It lives in its music, rituals, courtyards, festivals, food, craftsmanship and the people who continue these traditions.

Experience Gunla with Nepal In Style Travel

At Nepal In Style Travel, we believe that travelling through Nepal should be more than visiting famous places.

It should be about understanding the stories, meeting the people and experiencing traditions respectfully.

During Gunla, we invite travellers to explore Bhaktapur through its music, Buddhist heritage, traditional courtyards, sacred sites and community traditions.

Rather than simply watching a festival, our approach is to help visitors understand why the tradition matters and how it continues to shape everyday life in Bhaktapur.

A meaningful Gunla experience may include:

• Early-morning heritage walks
• Experiencing Gunla Bajan
• Visiting Buddhist bahas, bahis and chaityas
• Learning about Dipankara Buddha
• Understanding Panchadan and the tradition of giving
• Exploring Bhaktapur’s Buddhist heritage
• Meeting local cultural practitioners where appropriate
• Learning about the connection between Gunla and the wider festival calendar

Please remember: Gunla is a living religious tradition. Photography, filming and participation should always be approached with respect and according to local customs.

Why Experience Gunla in Bhaktapur?

If you are looking for a cultural experience in Nepal that goes beyond the usual tourist trail, Gunla offers a rare opportunity.

It brings together:

Music. Faith. Architecture. Community. Generosity. Living heritage.

And in Bhaktapur, these elements can still be experienced within the historic neighbourhoods where generations have continued the traditions.

Come for the heritage. Stay for the story.

Experience Nepal – Through Its People, Traditions and Heritage.

Nepal In Style Travel & Tours
Bhaktapur, Nepal