The Tharu village of Bardiya, where the population is 51 percent, is filled with the splendor of Maghi festival. This year, on the eve of Maghi Sankranti, there has been a lot of activity in the villages of Bardiya.
Most of the young men and women who went to study and work in the country and abroad from Tharu village settlement have already returned home. Maghi dance and songs are resounding in all the wards of the district. Maghi song is being danced in places like Rajapur, Bansgarhi etc.
Especially the Tharu community has been celebrating Maghi with enthusiasm and enthusiasm due to the new year and the big festival. Binthiram Tharu, the leader of Gularia Municipal Rural Municipality-2, Sangambasti, said that since it is a festival of special importance to the Tharu community, there was a lot of excitement and activity in the house. A cultural program is being held in Bardiya since Maghi Milan.
On the day of Maghi, the Tharus wake up early in the morning, take a bath and wash themselves, and worship Lord Shiva. On the same day, they go to their relatives and take their blessings. Since there is no child, there is a tradition of asking Shivaji for the boon of children,' he said, 'We welcome the new year by singing songs and Maghi dance according to our costumes in every Tharu village and settlement.'
Astuni Tharu, who is about 70 years old from Gularia-2, says that she remembers the time in the past when she was under arrest in the landlord's house and was not able to celebrate Maghi. "After independence, we have been celebrating Maghi in our own house," she said.
Due to the progress towards modernity, some young people have started to forget the old culture, and the elderly have started to worry. Chotaki Tharuni of Gulria Napa-12 says that the old traditions and originality are disappearing in the youth and young generation who are moving towards modernity in the last few years.
'In the past, Madal was played in villages in Maghi, now it is very less,' he said, 'Nowadays, Maghi festival is celebrated by DJ playing. As it is the beginning of the new year of the Tharu community and a festival of religious importance, it is customary to take a bath and wear white rice tika in the morning.
65-year-old Ramsharan of Badhaiya Tal Gapa-5 used to separate salt, rice, and pulses for single girls who came home. Chaudhary said. During this festival, according to tradition, the Tharus, Dhikris and other dishes eat pork, bangur, khasi, chicken,' he said.
Right now, young men and women of the Tharu community are enjoying themselves in the slums by singing Maghauta. Since the new year begins with Maghi of the Tharu community, village leaders such as badghar, chowkidars, and volunteers are selected for the whole year.
2057 years ago at the time of Maghi, the daughter Beti used to keep Kamalari, Bukreni and Kamaiya in the house of Sahu Mahajan. Now this tradition has disappeared after the government announced the end of Kamaiya practice on 2nd July 2017. The government has been giving public holidays on the occasion of Maghi.
