People from the Tharu community in western Tarai districts have been celebrating Atawari festival with fervour.
The festival falls on the first Sunday of Bhadra Shuklapaksha following Krishnajanmashtami. Tharu community members wish for their sisters' good luck and longevity on this festival.
Aguwa Chandra Tharu of Banke district said that the brothers observe fasting and even abstain from drinking water for whole day and worship Bhim, a Hindu deity, in the evening. The incense of pine woods are burnt while worshipping the deity, he said. It is customary to offer various delicacies prepared from wheat flour, rice and bread to the deity and to save some for the sisters and for the self. The sisters in return present gifts to their brothers. The devotees and revellers, on the second day of the festival, consume crispy crackers prepared from rice flour, cooked peas, Pataula, Thachcha, sidhra (dried mixed ground fish and vegetables) among other local cuisines. Tharu said that the Atawari festival is celebrated as the second major festival after Badadashain.
Atawari festival is celebrated with fervour among Tharu communities in Bardiya, Dang, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts.
Meanwhile, Raptisonari Rural Municipality administration of Banke district has announced a two-day public holiday (Sunday and Monday) on the occasion of the festival. The public holiday has been announced for the celebration of the Tharu festival in the region where there is the majority of their population, according to Lahuram Tharu, the rural municipality ward chair. Moreover, the local levels in the districts including Dang, Banke and Bardiya where there is the majority of the Tharu population have also announced public holidays on the occasion of the festival.
(With inputs from RSS)
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