Chaulā (Nepal Bhasa: चौला) is the sixth month in theNepal Era calendar, the nationallunar calendar ofNepal.[1] The month coincides withChaitra (चैत्र) in theHindu lunar calendar andApril in theGregorian calendar.
Chaulā begins with thenew moon and thefull moon falls on the 15th of thelunar month. The month is divided into the bright and dark fortnights which are known as Chaulā Thaw (चौला थ्व) and Chaulā Gā (चौला गा) respectively.
One of the major events that occur during this month isJana Baha Dyah Jatra, the chariot festival of theBuddhist deity White Machhendranath, theBodhisattva of compassion. It begins on the 8th day of the bright fortnight and ends on the 10th day.[2]
TheHindu festival of Chaitra Dasain also falls on the 8th day of the bright fortnight. It is a smaller version of theDasain festival. The 9th day isRama Navami which celebrates the birth of the Hindu deityRama.
The full moon day is known as Bālāju Purnimā or Lhuti Punhi. In Kathmandu, people celebrate the holiday by bathing at the stone water spouts of Balaju and climbing the nearby sacred hilltop of Jamacho. The 15th day of the dark fortnight is NepaleseMother's Day, known as Mātā Tirtha Aunsi ("Mother Pilgrimage New Moon") or Māmyā Khwā Swayegu ("Looking upon Mother's Face").[3]
| Thaw (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) |
| Devanagari script | Roman script | Corresponding Gregorian month | Name of Full Moon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. कछला | Kachhalā | November | Saki Milā Punhi,Kārtik Purnimā |
| 2. थिंला | Thinlā | December | Yomari Punhi, Dhānya Purnimā |
| 3. पोहेला | Pohelā | January | Milā Punhi, Paush Purnimā |
| 4. सिल्ला | Sillā | February | Si Punhi, Māghi Purnimā |
| 5. चिल्ला | Chillā | March | Holi Punhi,Phāgu Purnimā |
| 6. चौला | Chaulā | April | Lhuti Punhi, Bālāju Purnimā |
| 7. बछला | Bachhalā | May | Swānyā Punhi,Baisākh Purnimā |
| 8. तछला | Tachhalā | June | Jyā Punhi, Gaidu Purnimā |
| 9. दिल्ला | Dillā | July | Dillā Punhi,Guru Purnimā |
| 10. गुंला | Gunlā | August | Gun Punhi, Janāi Purnimā (Raksha Bandhan) |
| 11. ञला | Yanlā | September | Yenyā Punhi, Bhādra Purnimā |
| 12. कौला | Kaulā | October | Katin Punhi, Kojāgrat Purnimā |