What an ancient devotional text means for the women of Nepal

Swasthani holds a central place in Nepali culture. Its female characters uphold ideals of faithful wifehood – seen by some as patriarchal and by others as a source of strength.

By: Jessica Vantine Birkenholtz, Penn State, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 24, 2026

Words: 1,559

Last Updated: 4 months, 1 week ago

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By Jessica Vantine Birkenholtz, Penn State

I first heard the popular “Swasthani Vrata Katha” – a devotional text – recited in Sankhu, a village on the outskirts of Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley, some 25 years ago.

The text tells the story, or “katha,” of the ritual vow, or “vrata,” that women devotees perform to earn the favor of Swasthani, a local Nepali Hindu goddess.

Every day during the cold lunar month of January-February, 100 to …

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