Tharu Community to celebrate two-day Maghi Festival at Tundikhel

The Tharu community will be celebrating the Maghi Festival on January 13 and 14 at Tundikhel, Kathmandu.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Premilal Chaudhary, coordinator of the Tharu National Maghi Festival Organizing Committee and newly elected president of the Tharu Welfare Society, announced that the two-day celebration will showcase Tharu language, culture, and traditions.

“Since 2002, we’ve been celebrating Maghi in Kathmandu to mark the Tharu New Year. This year, we plan activities like blood donation and traditional rituals on the first day, followed by a grand festival on the second day,” Chaudhary said. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is expected to inaugurate the event, which is themed “Preserving, Promoting, and Protecting Tharu Culture with a Call for Inclusive Representation.”

The festival will feature over 100 stalls, including Tharu cuisine, handicrafts, and books. A motorcycle rally on January 11 began at Tinkune and concluded at Bhrikutimandap, while a cultural parade will commence from New Road and culminate at Tundikhel on January 15.

Traditional Tharu dances like Maghauta, Sakhiya, and Jhumra will highlight the event. Visitors can enjoy authentic Tharu dishes and purchase handicrafts and books celebrating Tharu heritage.

The organizers estimate a budget of NPR 2.1 million to manage the event.