Editorial photo #11944797 Human Interest

Nepal’s Indigenous Tharu Community Celebrates Maghi- Tharu New Year With Fervor

Members of Nepal's indigenous Tharu community wear traditional dress and dance in the premises of Kathmandu Durbar Square as they gather to celebrate Maghi-Tharu New Year in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 14, 2025. Maghi, the biggest festival of the Tharu community, marks the beginning of a new year and is an important occasion for them. The entire settlement buzzes with Maghauta dances and the lively beats of Dhamar and Dhumru songs. The Tharu community traditionally celebrates the Maghi festival from the last day of the Poush month to the second day of the Magh month. The first day of Magh marks the end of the Tharu Sambat (the Tharu calendar year), and it is customary to celebrate with joy and festivities, leaving behind the hardships of the past year. Maghi is also a festival of emancipation for the Tharu people. In the past, it is the time when Kamaiya (bonded laborers) and Kamalhari (female laborers) are liberated from the control of their landowners. This liberation is celebrated as a symbol of independence, marking a new chapter in the lives of the freed Kamaiya and Kamalhari. Following the conclusion of the Maghi festival, the Tharu community embarks on new beginnings, such as weddings, building new homes, and starting other important projects. (Photo by Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto)