On one side, a group of brothers with caps and turbans on their heads, white khadi on their red-black cholis, and a patuki tied around their backs. On the other side, a group of brothers with earrings in their ears and khukuris on their waists. On the other side, a group of sisters with lungis draped over their red-black cholis, and a dharo tied around their waists. A group of sisters adorned with original jewelry. This is the scene of the Bhume dance, performed on the occasion of the original festival of Rukum East. A loving gathering with the continuity of original language, art, culture, and tradition in a beautiful geography. This is the heritage of this place, its treasure.

Worship of water, land, and fire. Worship of earth, i.e. nature. Worship of land, i.e. land. ‘Nature worshippers’ The worship of the soil and water of this region by the indigenous people, tribes and their livelihoods is Bhume Puja.

According to Bikram Pun of Mahat, Ward No. 6 of Bhume Rural Municipality in Rukum East, it begins every year on Jestha 15 after the Bhume festival. Earlier, permission is sought from the village headman and a request is made to the musician to play the instrument. And from this night, the Bhume festival begins in the Magar settlements of Rukum East.

‘From Jestha 15, the young men and women of the village gather in the middle of the village every evening and dance to the Bhume dance and dance, and have fun. So that the dance may be enhanced,’ he says while explaining the custom of Mahat, ‘After this, the day before the mid-Jestha, the day when the lake rises, is celebrated.’ The elders, brothers and sisters from all over the village all set out on a journey to the lake playing musical instruments.’

Also, a campfire is set up a little higher up from the village. A fire is lit in the middle and people gather around it and enjoy the fire all night long. Sometimes there is dancing and singing in the original language, sometimes there are pieces of folk songs. This goes on all night long. In the dark night, amidst the dense forest, the melodious voice echoes to the rhythm of the musical instruments.

After staying awake all night, the group, which is still awake in the morning, sets off again. Because they have not found a place to pick flowers. The day of Masant is the day to pick flowers. This was done so that after coming here the previous day and staying here, they can pick flowers on this day and return to the village. After walking uphill from here, you will find a Bhume Than in the middle.

The village girl, or Kanya, places a flag on the Than. And after worshipping Bhume, the group moves forward. Now it is time to pick flowers. It is time to pick the flowers in a row and enjoy them by wearing them on your head.

Former Bhume Rural Municipality Chairman Ramsur Budha says that picking flowers like this during Bhume is a tradition in various Magar settlements of the district along with Mahat.

‘The beauty of Bhume festival is that it is an excuse to increase mutual harmony,’ he adds. After picking flowers, they descend with music and reach the village on the same day. There is a Khardari group in the village. That group reaches Mahatgaun a little higher to welcome those who have picked flowers from the lake. And everyone reaches the village together. 

On this day, ‘May there be no floods and landslides, may the production be good and may nature be victorious, may the earth be victorious.’ Former chairman Budha says that it is customary to sacrifice a Sangur with this wish.  And the Buki flowers brought from the lake are put on the head and made into a garland to dance the Bhume dance and the dance begins. 

For this region, Bhume is a festival, an excuse and a big introduction, says Puniraj Gharti, chairman of Putha Uttarganga Rural Municipality. This is the time when the place where the Magar Kham-speaking people of Rukum East live is filled with excitement and joy. 

On the occasion of the Bhume festival, the Lambini provincial government has declared a public holiday on Asar 1 in Rukum East, Rolpa, Dang and Pyuthan districts along with Rulpa. In addition, the ‘Bhume Cultural Festival and Open Competition 2073’ organized by the Bhume Rural Municipality every year has been organized since Asad 2 this year, informed the Rural Municipality Chairman Hom Prasad Shrestha.