Asadh 15 in Nepal – The Festival of Planting and Gratitude
Asadh 15 (असार १५), also known as Ropain Diwas or National Paddy Day, is a culturally and agriculturally significant day in Nepal. Celebrated around June 29, it marks the peak of the rice planting season (ropain) and honors Nepal’s deep-rooted agrarian traditions.
On the joyful occasion of Asadh 15 (National Paddy Day), Kantipur Yoga Academy organized a special celebration to help participants reconnect with nature, experience traditional rice planting firsthand, and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of mud therapy.
Set amidst the lush green fields and gentle monsoon rains, our students and guests took part in real-time rice plantation—feeling the soft earth beneath their feet, planting seedlings in the mud, and singing along with local farmers. This grounding experience offered a beautiful glimpse into Nepal’s agrarian heritage, allowing participants to honor the land, the rhythm of nature, and the humble strength of farmers.
But beyond culture, the day also served as a natural healing session. Walking barefoot in wet soil and immersing the body in rich, nourishing mud offered a form of mud therapy—an ancient natural practice known to:
🌿 Detoxify the skin and body
🦶 Stimulate pressure points in the feet (reflexology)
🧘 Calm the nervous system and release tension
🌍 Deepen connection with the earth element (prithvi tattva) in yogic philosophy
A Yogic View of Asadh 15
In yoga, connection with the five elements—earth, water, fire, air, and space—is essential for holistic balance. Asadh 15 becomes more than a festival; it becomes a day of karma yoga (selfless action), bhumi sadhana (earth-based practice), and mindful celebration.
Through this beautiful blend of tradition and therapy, Kantipur Yoga Academy honors Asadh 15 as a reminder to live closely with nature, celebrate the joy of simple living, and cultivate gratitude for the abundance around and within us.
🌾 Why Asadh 15 Is Celebrated
- It celebrates the beginning of the monsoon and the planting of rice, Nepal’s staple crop.
- The day is seen as a symbol of fertility, prosperity, and gratitude toward the earth and rain.
- It acknowledges the hard work of farmers who sustain the nation’s food supply.
🎉 Traditional Celebrations
- Farmers head to muddy fields to plant rice seedlings while singing folk songs, especially Asare Geet.
- People joyfully splash mud on each other, dance, and eat traditional meals like dahi chiura (curd and beaten rice).
- Urban youth and tourists also participate to reconnect with the soil and celebrate rural culture.
🧘♀️ Spiritual and Yogic Reflection
For spiritual practitioners and yogis, Asadh 15 is a reminder of harmony with nature, the cyclical flow of life, and the value of karma yoga—working with devotion and awareness. Just as the farmer plants seeds in the mud, we too plant intentions in our minds and nurture them with effort and patience.
At Kantipur Yoga Academy, we honor such festivals that celebrate balance with nature, mindful living, and community connection—values at the heart of yogic life.