Tharus celebrating Aatwari festival today

Ghodaghodi (Kailali), Aug 24: The Tharu community living in the Tarai region of Nepal is celebrating the Atwari festival with special faith and enthusiasm today. Considered the second biggest festival after Maghi, Aatwari is an important festival celebrated with mostly men staying on a fast. Some women also voluntarily observe a fast during this festival. This festival is celebrated every year on the second Sunday after Shri Krishna Janmashtami. Since it is celebrated on a Sunday or Aaitabar, this festival is called Aatwari. It is customary for brothers to fast for the good health and prosperity of their sisters on this festival. The religious importance of the Aatwari festival is linked to the story of the Mahabharata, says Budhram Chaudhary, chair of the Ghodaghodi municipal Bhalmansa Working Committeei. The sun is also worshipped during this festival. The devotees observe a fast without even drinking water from Sunday morning. It is customary to take a bath and perform puja on the day of fasting. After the puja, various native dishes are cooked including rice flour roti, phulauri, and mixed beans. On the second day of the festival, i.e. Monday morning, the devotees bathe again and perform pooja to break the fast. Then, the brothers take offerings set aside for their sisters and reach their homes. The sisters bless their brothers and accept the offerings brought by the brothers. It is believed that this will further strengthen the relationship between brothers and sisters, said Aman Chaudhary, Secretary of the Ghodaghodi municipal Bhalmansa Working Committee. This festival is celebrated with much fanfare by the Tharu community living in Kailali, Kanchanpur, Banke, Bardiya, Surkhet and Dang districts. Recognizing the importance of the festival, the Sudurpaschim Provincial Government has declared a public holiday across the province today.