'Gurhi' festival is celebrated by the Tharu community

Kailali: The Tharu community living in the Terai region of western Nepal has been celebrating the 'Gurhi' festival since ancient times. During this festival, as the farming work is completed during the rainy season, the girls of the village go to a square far away from the village to do 'gurhi' (symbol of the singing insect) made of cloth so that the crops are not affected by insects.

Acting President of Tharu Kalyankarisabha, Madhav Chaudhary said, "There is also a popular belief that if they go beyond the village and do gurhi, the paddy crop will be free from insects and the crop will grow green." He said that it is believed that 'gurhi' (the symbol of the singing worm) can cure small children from diseases such as eye irritation, fever, nausea and vomiting. It is said that this festival promotes social harmony, and mutual friendship, and escapes the sorrows, crises, and calamities in the village.

It is said that there is no written history as to when this festival started. Prabhat Choudhary, a Tharu leader of Dhangadhi, said that the program to celebrate this festival with grandeur in various municipalities of the district including Camchok, Shantinagar, Urma, Bhadagaon, Badhara and other Tharu communities of Dhangadhi has been decided. Due to the spread of Covid-19, last year there was not much activity in this festival, but this year grand preparations have been made in various places to celebrate the festival.

'Gurhi' declared a public holiday by the municipality On the occasion of the 'Gurhi' festival, Dhangadhi sub-metropolitan city, Kailari, Joshipur rural municipality and Bhajani municipality have decided to give a holiday at the local level today. It is mentioned in the notification that it has been decided to give a public holiday to all government offices and schools at the local level.