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Gunla is celebrated for an entire month. Gunla, the tenth month of Nepal Era calendar is taken as a sacred month dedicated to Lord Buddha. The festival is celebrated to remember the auspicious 'rain retreat' when the Buddha preached disciples on essence of his principles along with solitary meditation. So, the monks and nuns go into retreat to practice meditation during the rainy season. Buddhist followers also spend the month in praying and fasting. On this period, groups of people can be seen on the way to Swoyambhu in the misty morning everyday. They are accompanied by traditional musical bands with drums, cymbals and flutes. The set of musical instruments are played only during the Gunla. The Gunla lakhe (Mask dance) enlivens the festival with the street performances. Huge images of Buddha, sacred text (Saphu) and ancient scroll paintings (Paubha) are brought out for display at bihars and bahils (Buddhist courtyard) all over the city.