As the Maghi festival approaches, preparations have begun in the Tharu settlement of Deukhuri area of ​​Dang.

According to the tradition of the Tharu community celebrating Maghi as the new year, preparations for the festival begin a month before the festival. Due to this, the hustle and bustle of the locals in the Tharu settlements has increased.

As Magh approaches, organizations related to the Tharu community have also intensified preparations for the cultural festival.

Rama Chaudhary of Ghorahi Sub-metropolitan City-7 said that there is a tradition of gathering at the house of the village leader (Mahatwa) on the occasion of the Maghi festival in the Tharu community and making plans for the whole year.

'We have been bringing firewood and leaves from the forest to prepare for Maghi. The work of tying two leaves is underway,' she said, 'The work of pounding and grinding paddy and rice to make dhikr, roti and jaand has also begun.'

The Tharu community has a tradition of celebrating Maghi festival for four to five days from Maghe Sankranti. Preparations are made a month in advance to make various dishes for this.

According to Sushil Chaudhary of Ghorahi-2, Maghi is considered a special festival by the Tharu community. 'On this occasion, the village head and head of the household are elected, a watchman is appointed, and new rules are implemented and old rules are revised,' he said. Maghi is also considered a festival to review the work done throughout the year and make future action plans.

It is customary for men of the Tharu community to light a bonfire on the day before Maghi. People from all over the village gather in one place to light a bonfire and bathe in a river or stream along with the rooster. After bathing, there is a tradition of paying obeisance to those older than them and seeking blessings and donating 'khichdi' at home, informed Ashok Chaudhary, president of Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha Dang.

Khichdi is made with meat lentils, rice and salt. This khichdi is reserved for ancestors, deities and daughters-in-law. 'The members of the household cannot eat the leftover khichdi,' said Chairman Chaudhary. 'It is taken to the daughters' houses as pahur (koseli).'

It is customary for villagers to gather early in the morning on the day before Maghi and slaughter a cow and pig (jatiya marna) and distribute it equally. On this occasion, special dishes of ghongi, gangta and fish are prepared and eaten, and 'Maghouta nach' is performed.

According to Bhim Bahadur Chaudhary, a Tharu leader from Ghorahi-6, the month of Magh is considered as the new year in the Tharu community. 'Transactions and all accounts are settled in the middle of the month of Pus and a new accounting is started from Magh 1,' he said. On the occasion of Magh, farming and other transactions are also renewed at the family and village community level.