Shree Swasthani Brata Katha

Shree Swasthani Brata Katha is an amazing way to hear and read the Swasthani stories on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. This app consists of the whole text from the sacred book along with a mellow voice reading out the stories. You can scroll through the chapters as the month long reading festival progresses. Swasthani Brata Katha is an app designed for all Nepalese around the world who miss and wish to reminisce in the age old stories that we listened to growing up. Shree Swasthani Brata Katha is the new way to pass our culture and traditions on to the tech generation.

Shree Swasthani Brata Katha is a very popular ritual observed in Nepal in the Poush month (January – February) during winter. Goddess Shree Swasthani, known to grant wishes of her devotees, is worshipped for the whole month of Poush. The Swasthani Brata Katha (story) is recited everyday. The month long telling of the tales are dedicated to the Goddess and the stories that are mainly narrated are those of Swasthani Devi, Lord Shiva and other Gods.

Goddess Shree Swasthani is usually portrayed as a four-handed deity with Charka, Trishul, Sword and Lotus in each hand - sitting at the center while Asta Matrika or eight deities of power – Mahakali, Baishanavi, Brahmi, Maheswari, Kaumeshwari, Barahi, Indrayani and Chamunda painted around her.

It is believed that Goddess Swasthani helped Goddess Sati overcome her troubles after she burned herself at Daksha Yaga after hearing her husband, Lord Shiva, being insulted. As per this legend Goddess Swasthani helped Sati overcome the troubles and then to reincarnate as Parvati and win over Lord Shiva as her husband again.

During Swasthani Katha, Hindu married women observe Brata or fasting for the wellbeing of their husbands and unmarried women observe the Brata in order to get a good husband. Women wear red colored clothes and bangles during the one-month period as it is believed that red is a sign of good luck. The Brata is observed for one month.

The month long rituals associated with Swasthani Katha takes place on the bank of rivers. In Kathmandu the festival takes place at Salinadi, a river associated with the Swasthani Brata Katha, situated in Sankhu.

During the holy period, in the morning or evening the Goddess is worshipped by family members, amid chanting of holy hymns from the book Shree Swasthani Brata Katha which narrates the divine le