Expatriates return home in large numbers to celebrate Maghi festival

Dhangadhi: Members of the Tharu community who had gone to India for employment have begun returning home in large numbers to celebrate the Maghi festival, the most important festival of the Tharu community.

Maghi is regarded as the biggest festival of the Tharu community and also marks their New Year, which begins on Magh 1. The festival is traditionally celebrated with joy, dancing and cultural programs from the last day of Poush to Magh 2. Because of its significance, Tharu people working abroad make every effort to return home, even from distant places, to take part in the celebrations.

Shravan Chaudhary of Khonpa, Ghodaghodi Municipality, who works in Bangalore, India, said he returned home to celebrate Maghi and will go back to his workplace after the festival. He added that the community returns home every year as Maghi is extremely important in their social and cultural life.

People are returning home through Nepal–India border points such as Gaurifanta, Chandanchauki, Belaparsua and Khakraula. During Maghi, it is customary for the Tharu community to review the activities of the past year and make plans for the coming year at both family and community levels.

Jit Bahadur Chaudhary of Rajipur, Gauriganga Municipality, who returned from Mumbai, said that Maghi is a time for family discussions and annual planning, which is why he came home to celebrate the festival. After completing agricultural work, many youths from the Tharu community travel to India in search of employment.

As Maghi approaches, preparations are underway in Tharu communities. Activities such as grinding wheat, collecting leaves from forests and making dunatapari have begun. Most people in the community eat jhon jhol during the festival, and preparations usually start about a month in advance. Shopping activity has also increased in local markets.

Kamal Prasad Chaudhary of Kailari Rural Municipality-7 said that the festive spirit of Maghi has already begun in villages, with people collecting firewood from forests for festivals and weddings.

According to tradition, the first day of Maghi is celebrated with Raharangit, which includes eating meat and singing Dhamar and Dhumru songs. On the second day, people take an early morning bath and seek blessings from Thulabada. On the third day, Maghi Dewani is performed and the festival is concluded. Lakhan Chaudhary of Rajipur said that Maghi holds special importance for the Tharu community as blessings of Thulabada are sought during the festival.