Lalitpur, July 26

This year Naag Panchami  and Rakshya Bandhan or Janai Purnima will be celebrated on the same day on Friday.

The Panchanga Committee has advised all Hindu devotees to observe Rakshya Bandhan on Naag Panchami. However, cultural experts say two different festivals should not be celebrated on the same day.

According to cultural expert Hari Ram Joshi, Janai Purnima is celebrated 10 days after Naag Panchami. “Solar eclipse occurring on Janai Purnima should not be a reason to celebrate the festival before its usual date.”

He said people in the past didn’t begin new activities three days before and after a solar eclipse. “Although it is scientifically proven that solar eclipse doesn’t harm anybody, it is sheer superstition to change the date of a festival because a solar eclipse is occurring on that day,” said Joshi.