Deukhuri (Dang), 17 Push(1 January): With the approaching Maghi festival, the Tharu settlements here have become bustling with activity. Maghi, considered the biggest festival of the Tharu community, is in full swing.
As per the tradition of making various preparations a month before the Maghi festival, the locals of the settlement are busy these days. The Tharu community celebrates this festival as the New Year. Bipana Chaudhary of Saudiyar, Ghorahi Sub-metropolitan City-7, said that on the occasion of this festival, the Tharu community has a tradition of gathering at the house of the village headman (leader) and making plans for the whole year. According to her, preparations are currently underway in the Tharu settlement for dancing, singing, and eating.
“The work of bringing firewood and leaves from the forest for the preparation of Maghi has been completed. We are working on making two-layered leaves. The work of pounding/grinding paddy and rice for cooking dhikr, roti, and jaand has started. Preparations should be made a month in advance to prepare the food dishes,” said Bipana. “We are busy preparing special sweet dishes including dhikr, roti, and special jhol (jaand) of Anadi and rice.” She informed that it is a tradition to celebrate the Maghi festival for four to five days starting from the day of Maghe Sankranti after preparing in the month of Poush.
Madan Chaudhary of Ghorahi-6 said that Magh is considered special because the Tharu community elects its head, watchman, and house owner, implements new rules, and makes amendments. He informed that Magh is considered a festival to review the work done throughout the year and plan for the upcoming work.
Madan said that this festival is important for the Tharu community as the year-long plan is made in Magh. In the Tharu community, while men are busy preparing outside the house, women are gathering food and drink items. He mentioned that women are preparing items like firewood, leaves, rice, flour, and dunatapari.
The men of the Tharu community light a bonfire on the day before Maghi. People from all over the village gather together to light a bonfire and bathe in a river or stream with their wives. After bathing, they pay homage to their elders and seek their blessings before returning home, and then donate khichdi. It is a tradition among the Tharu community.
Khichdi is made with meat, rice and salt. This khichdi is reserved for ancestors, deities and daughters-in-law. “The reserved khichdi cannot be eaten by the members of the family and it is customary to take it to the daughters-in-law’s house as pahur (koseli),” said Chandra Prasad Chaudhary, district president of the Mahatwa Sangh.
It is customary for farmers in the village to gather early in the morning on the day before Maghi and kill a cow or pig (Jita Marna in Tharu language) and divide it equally. Special dishes of ghongi, gangta and fish are prepared and eaten. ‘Maghouta Nach’ is danced on the occasion of Maghi. Ramcharan Chaudhary of Ghorahi-6 said that this dance is filled with beauty and compassion.
“In the Tharu community, the month of Magh is considered as the new year. In the middle of Poush, it is customary to settle all transactions and accounts and start a new accounting from the 1st of Magh. In Magh, whether within the family or in the village community, other practices including farming are renewed for the coming year,” said Ramcharan. As Magh approaches, preparations are being made for dancing, singing, and eating.
Preparations for the Magh Mahotsab(festival)
On the occasion of Maghi, the biggest festival of the Tharu community, a one-day Magh Festival is being organized by Ghorahi Sub-metropolitan Cities-6 and 17 on December 20.
Ram Lautan Chaudhary, coordinator of the main organizing committee and chairperson of Ghorahi-17, informed that the festival has been organized by the ward office since last year with the aim of preserving and promoting the Tharu language, literature, folk art and culture.
For further preparation and management of the festival, a 35-member sub-committee under the coordination of social worker and Tharu leader Mohanlal Chaudhary, a resident of Ghorahi-17 Okhara, a 21-member stage management committee under the coordination of Birendra Chaudhary, a 35-member volunteer sub-committee under the coordination of Gopi Chaudhary, and the Okhara Tole Development Organization have been decided to be responsible for hospitality, informed Chaudhary, coordinator of the festival’s main organizing committee.
Ashok Chaudhary, Chairman of Tharu Kalyan Karini Sabha, Dang, said that the Magh Festival is being organized with the aim of further supporting the development of the original art and culture of the Tharu community. He mentioned that the Magh Festival is being organized with the aim of preserving and promoting the culture and traditions of the Tharu community on the occasion of the festival.
Tharu dishes, handicrafts of the Tharu community, language reflecting Tharu culture, costumes and other materials will be exhibited at the festival, informed Tharu Welfare Assembly Joint Secretary Shri Prasad Chaudhary. He expressed confidence that the Tharu community will have a strong presence at the festival to ensure the economic, social, cultural and political rights of the Tharu community.
