Atwari festival of Tharu community today, holiday in Kailali and Kanchanpur

Dhangadhi: Sunday is a public holiday in Kailali and Kanchanpur. The government of Sudurpaschim Province has given a public holiday today on the occasion of the Atwari festival of the Tharu community.

Today will be a holiday in all government offices and public bodies in Kailali-Kanchanpur. Earlier, the state government had decided to give a public holiday on 4th September (Bhadra 19th). But according to the date, the Atwari festival falls on 28th of August (12th of August), after the request of the Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha (Thakas), it was decided to amend the date and give a holiday today on the occasion of the festival, according to Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law, Dhangadhi.

It is said that there is a tradition of fasting and worshiping in the name of Bhima all day on Sunday, one of the five Pandavas, who freed a daughter of the Tharu community from the atrocities being committed against her during the Dwapara era.

During the Atwari festival, men of the Tharu community pray to Bhima, one of the five Pandavas, without even drinking water, wishing for the unwavering good fortune of their sisters.