Tharu People’s Maghi: 4 Amazing Facts About Nepal’s Indigenous Festival

Along with the Gregorian calendar, Vikram Shambat and Nepal Shambat are the two other popular forms of calendars used in Nepal. The first day of tenth month called “Magha” of the Vikram Shabhat is celebrated as Maghe Sankranti in Nepal signaling an end to the winter solstice.

This day is celebrated in different forms across Nepal with different names. The Newars celebrate it as Gheu Chaku Sallhu, the Brahmin and Chettri community celebrate it as Makar Sankranti, the Magars celebrate it as their annual festival.

However, for the Tharu communities across Nepal, this day is particularly special in many aspects. Here are some fascinating facts about Maghi:

1. The White-Green Costume and the Jewelry

If you ever observe Tharu people rallying on the streets during Maghi, you will notice they are mostly in green and white. Even Tharu women are seen clad in green and white sari during Maghi.

This has special symbolic meaning for the Tharu community. The Hindu idea of divinity emphasizes on the omnipresence nature of God in both animate and inanimate objects provided that you are devoted.

So, basically if you have devotion, you can witness God in any form be it a living entity or an inanimate object.

Tharu witness and venerate nature as a form of divinity. For them, the nature on which our life sustains is nothing less than divine.

The green color represents this veneration and respect for nature. The white color, on the other hand, represents the peaceful, hospitable and friendly nature of the Tharus.

The ornaments generally made of silver represents the moon, a powerful body that influences tides and water movements inside and outside the human body.

2. Unique and Indigenous Delicacies

The Tharu community is one of the most diverse communities in Nepal. So, you will be amazed to know that the same festival of Maghi is celebrated in different ways across Nepal.

In the central region, it is called Tila Sankranti, Maghi, or Khichara; in the east, it is called Khichadi; and in the Far West, it is called Magh or Maghi.

The central idea, themes and values, however, are the same. The delicacies, on the other hand, are unique depending upon different geographical regions.

For instance, “Bageya” is made in the central region, while the dish called “Dhikri” is popular in the Far West. Sesame balls called “Til ko Laddu”, puffed rice called “Bhuja ko Laddu” and Ghonghi , a type of snail dish, are some other popular delicacies.

The Tharu cuisine and dishes are unique in their own manner and Maghi is one moment to rejoice on these delicious indigenous dishes.

3. Leadership Transition and Community Time

For the Tharu community, Maghi is a special time to select their community leader. Apart from a moment of celebration, cultural performances and family time, Maghi is the special time of the year, when the community comes to select their leader popularly referred to as the “Bhalmansa”, which in literal terms refers to a “Good Person”.

The tradition of selecting the “Bhalmansa” holds great significance since the leader is entrusted with important responsibilities in the community. The people here pick Bhalmansa unopposed through agreement, but election and lottery draws are also exercised.

Similarly, community postmen were known as Chirkiya, and Guruwa to serve as a community health workers and are also selected who perform their jobs under the leadership of Bhalmansa.

So, along with celebrations, Maghi is also a special moment for the Tharu community to reflect, harmonize and select their leaders.

4. Welcoming the Spring and Celebrations

Last but not the least, for the Tharu community in Nepal, Maghi is a moment of rejoice. If you visit them, they will welcome you wholeheartedly to be a part of this majestic celebrations. They perform a special dance called the “Maaghi Naach”, a part of Maghi celebration, which reflects the belief, life style, art, and identity of the Tharus.

The social life, the values, the agrarian culture, the simplicity, and the warmness of the people. There is no better time than Maghi to experience the hospitability of the Tharu community in Nepal. Unique cuisine, amazing dance, exotic culture.

The Maghi is an intangible heritage of Nepal, special to the Tharus and unique to Nepal in many aspects. It is a moment of rejoice, reflection and celebrations.

Last but not the least, here is a special Tharu song: