Dilā (Nepal Bhasa:, दिला) is the ninth month in the Nepal Era calendar, the national lunar calendar of Nepal.[1] The month coincides with Āsāṛh (आषाढ) in the Hindu lunar calendar and July in the Gregorian calendar.
Dilā begins with the new moon and the full moon falls on the 15th of the lunar month. The month is divided into the bright and dark fortnights which are known as Dilā Thwa (दिला थ्व) and Dilā Gā (दिला गा) respectively.
Among the major events of the month, the 11th day of the bright fortnight is Hari Sayani Ekādashi which marks the beginning of the Hindu deity Vishnu's four-month cosmic sleep. On the 12th day, devotees plant the Tulsi plant (Holy basil) in their homes. The plant represents Vishnu.
The full moon day is Guru Purnimā when teachers are honored. The holiday is also known as Dilā Punhi and is sacred to Buddhists as the day when the Buddha gave his first sermon and set in motion the Dharmacakra, the Wheel of Dharma. The first day of the dark fortnight is the start of Vassa, the three-month rains retreat for Buddhist monks when they remain in their monasteries.
The festival of Gathān Mugah Charhe (गथां मुगः चह्रे) is celebrated on the 14th day of the dark fortnight when evil spirits are chased out of the city limits.[2]
| Thwa (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 | June | Jyā Punhi, Gaidu Purnimā | ||
| 9. दिल्ला | Dilā | July | Dilā Punhi, Guru Purnimā | |
| 10. गुंला | August | Gun Punhi, Janāi Purnimā (Raksha Bandhan) | ||
| 11. ञला | Yanlā | September | Yenyā Punhi, Bhādra Purnimā | |
| 12. कौला | Kaulā | October | Katin Punhi, Kojāgrat Purnimā |