Sudurpaschim province declares public holiday tomorrow for Tharu Maghi festival

Dhangadhi: The Sudurpaschim Province government has announced a public holiday on Poush 30 to mark the Maghi festival of the Tharu community. The holiday coincides with the start of the Tharu community’s Maghi celebrations in western Nepal, which begin on the last day of Poush.

As part of the tradition, the Tharu community performs a collective ritual of sacrificing a pig (Jita) on this day. In recognition of this custom, Poush 30 has been officially declared a public holiday in the provincial gazette as the “Jita Festival.”

Maghi is also celebrated as the Tharu community’s New Year, with festivities continuing from the last day of Poush through Magh 1 and 2. While Magh 1 is recognized as a national public holiday, local authorities have customarily declared holidays on the subsequent days to allow full participation in the celebrations.