In Maghi, there is a tradition of choosing the leader of Tharu village i.e. Mahatwa for the new year and making new plans for the new year.
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As the main festival of Maghi is approaching, the arts and culture of the Tharu community have started to be displayed. Tharu culture has flourished not only in Tharu villages but also in cities. The Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha Dang has started the Magh Cultural Festival in Ghorahi from Friday with the aim of promoting the art culture of the Tharu community.
On the occasion of the opening of the festival, Ghorahi market was circumambulated with various arts and tableaus. The festival, which lasted until Saturday, featured Tharu songs, dances, handicrafts, fish, ghongi, gangta, pork, rat meat, dhikri, unadi bread and other Tharu dishes for sale.
The festival was organized on the open platform of the District Coordination Committee with the slogan 'Economic awakening and cultural transformation is our campaign, our contribution to prosperity including social justice'.
Ashok Kumar Chaudhary, President of Tharu Welfare Sabha Dang, said that the festival was organized to propagate and promote the art culture of the Tharu community. The
festival was attended by Lumbini Chief Minister Chetnarayan Acharya, Industry, Tourism and Transport Minister Prachanda Vikram Neupane, Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Sita Sharma Chaudhary, Ghorahi Sub Metropolitan Municipality Chief Narulal Chaudhary and other guests. The guest was welcomed to the event by tying a feta of cloth on the head which is customary in the Tharu community.
The Tharu community in Banke, Bardia, Kailali and Kanchanpur of Western Terai, including Dang, celebrate Maghi as a new year and an important festival. Along with dancing and eating, planning for the new year is also done in Maghi. Chandra Prakash Choudhary, district president of Mathawa Federation, said that there is a tradition in Maghi to choose the leader of the Tharu village i.e. Mahatwa and make new plans for the new year. In addition, making plans for the whole year and preparing for the marriage of children are done in Maghi.
It is customary to start dancing in the Mahatwa's house in the evening on the day of Maghi and go to every house to dance. Chandra Prakash said that song and dance are more important in Maghi. In addition to songs related to receiving and giving blessings from elders, there is also a tradition of singing songs about Mahatava, Raiti, Kamaiya, Kamalari, etc. in Maghi.
The song sung on the occasion of Maghi is called Maghauta. Maghauta songs and dances are famous in Maghi. Despite the importance of the Maghauta dance, all types of dances sung and danced by the Tharu community are presented in the festival. Even if the Maghi festival is considered to be on the 1st of January, the dancing starts from the month of January.
