Weeklong Maghi festival for preservation and promotion of Tharu culture

Sundarharaicha (Morang), Jan 14: The Tharu Cultural Museum at Sundarharaicha municipality-4 in Morang district is organizing a weeklong Maghi Parva (Maghi Festival) from today through January 20.

The Maghi festival is the major festival of the Tharu community and is observed on the first day of the Nepali month Magh according to the lunar calendar. The weeklong festival that is to be held at Haweli Tole in Dulari features Tharu dishes, handicrafts, and locally produced goods, among others, in 70 stalls.

Festival coordinator Tej Narayan Chaudhary shared that the event will exhibit 40 industrial stalls and 30 food stalls, aiming to draw attention to Tharu culture, arts, and crafts on both national and international platforms. Additionally, there will be cultural performances by national and local artists as well as a Tharu cultural tableau parade and entertaining games, added Chaudhary.

The municipality has a total Tharu population of 33,779, as per the latest census in 2021, which is 28 percent of the municipality’s total population. The festival is being organized to preserve and promote Tharu culture, tradition, customs, and arts.

Organizers estimate that the costs of the festival management would be around Rs 6 million. They expected around 10,000 visitors on average to visit the festival daily. —RSS