Tharu community to perform Dashain's Dhikri puja on Kartik 1

The Tharu community has decided to perform this year's Dashain Dhikri puja on Kartik 1.

The date and rituals were finalized after a broad discussion among Tharu leaders in Ghorahi, Dang, on Friday, following confusion over which day to celebrate Dashain due to uncertainty around the Ashtami date.

The meeting, chaired by Chandra Prasad Chaudhary, president of the Mataawa Barghar Bhalmansa Sangh, Dang, was attended by representatives of Mataawa, Gurwa, scholars, journalists and the Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha.

According to the Sabha's central treasurer, Churna Bahadur Chaudhary, jamara will be placed in homes on the 25th of the month the Tharu community calls Kuwar (Asoj). On Asoj 31, painastopi-dhakya and gondri will be washed. On Kartik 2, offerings will be made to ancestors (pitar). The same day, barkimar, jamara and bebari will be placed at the Bhuhyarthan, and gaunlya tika will be applied in Mataawa households, Chaudhary said.

The discussion was organized to bring uniformity across the community on the dates and rituals of Dashain. The Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha, Mataawa, Barghar and Bhalmansa Sangh and other organizations have urged the community to celebrate the festival according to this decision.

Treasurer Chaudhary briefed participants on the history, philosophy and significance of Tharu Dashain during the discussion. Central secretariat member Bhuwan Chaudhary, cultural expert Bezhlal Chaudhary and scholar Dr German Chaudhary, among others, stressed celebrating Dashain while preserving ancestral traditions.