Rana Tharu Community Celebrates Holi Festival for 38 Days, Culminating in Khakhdehra Ritual

Dhangadhi. The Holi festival is celebrated for 38 days among the Rana Tharu community. Holi is the biggest festival for this community, which resides only in Kailali and Kanchanpur. This time, it was somewhat affected by the elections.

In this community, Holi is observed on the day of Magh Purnima, and the festival begins that day. From Magh Purnima until Fagu Purnima, 'Jinda (living) Holi' is played for one month. It is played only at night.

During this period, there is singing and dancing to songs. New songs are created. Even after working all day, everyone gathers in the evening to have fun. The elderly sing songs, and the new generation learns them. During this time, there is also a tradition of celebrating the festival in their respective villages.

On the day of Fagun Purnima, the Holi effigy kept outside the village to the south is set on fire. The day after the Holi effigy is burned is called 'Tika'. On the Tika day, people from the entire village apply the ash from the burned Holi as a Tika mark.

Dubari Rana, an expert from the Rana Tharu community, stated that applying this Tika is believed to bring good health, prevent illness, and ensure longevity.

From the day of Tika, they play 'Mari Holi (dead Holi)' for eight days. Mari Holi can be played both at night and during the day. During these eight days, the Holi dance and play take place at the homes of the Bhalmansa (village head), ward chairman, and others. The host family feeds the team wherever they play.

Kallu Rana, an elder of the Rana Tharu community, mentioned that the tradition during Holi involves asking for 'Fagu' (gifts/money), wearing their ornaments, and dancing in traditional attire.

The eighth day after Tika is 'Khakhdehra'. Khakhdehra is also considered the farewell day for Holi. On the day of Khakhdehra, everyone wakes up early and one person from every household goes out to 'break' the Khakhdehra. To break the Khakhdehra, items like pitchers, lotas, pieces of broken pottery, clay pots, 'Satanja' (seven grains), pure water, and 'Kandi' (dried cow dung) are needed.

Early in the morning, people carry pots (matyangra) with needles stuck in them from house to house, chanting about warding off diseases and evil spirits, and take them to the Khakhdehra outside the village. The village head or 'Chakar' (village watchman) gathers the materials brought by the villagers and breaks the Khakhdehra. After the Khakhdehra is broken, they return home, and it is customary not to look back at the Khakhdehra upon returning. The Rana Tharu ancestors say that looking back reveals a demon (Rakshas). After breaking the Khakhdehra, those returning take the dust (ash) from the Holi fire and visit the homes of the Bhalmansa, Padhana (another village official), leaders, and everyone else, applying the ash Tika, celebrating joyfully, seeking blessings, and collecting 'Dakshina' (donations) from the respected individuals of the village. Furthermore, on that day, people across the village must stop all agricultural work and the use of bullock carts. If anyone dares to operate a bullock cart, there is a tradition of imposing a fine (danda).

The Rana Tharu community, who have lived for centuries in villages near the Terai jungles, have been battling major calamities such as evil spirits, poverty, and epidemics. To neutralize all problems in social issues, disease, poverty, evil spirits, and health during the month-long revelry of Holi, there is a tradition of collectively breaking the Khakhdehra. Khakhdehra is a symbol of all problems (evil spirits) which is broken/beaten outside the village or in the jungle on this very day. Rana Tharu experts say that the Khakhdehra festival was established for a happy society free from evil spirits, as the collective beating and breaking of all these problems in the name of Khakhdehra boosts morale in the village, especially as the time for epidemics, malaria, and outbreaks increases with the rising heat in the Terai region.

Dubari Rana stated that this festival has been ongoing since tradition. He said, 'This festival is celebrated to wash off the dust after Holi ends.'

On this day, people enjoy good food and wear new clothes. The Provincial Government in the Sudurpaschim Province grants a public holiday for the Khakhdehra observance. The holiday for the Khakhdehra festival is the only holiday granted by the government for a Rana Tharu community festival. The provincial government started granting this holiday a few years ago.

Bhanupratap Rana, a young leader of the Rana Tharu community, mentioned that the previous generation felt the need for children to stay engaged and for culture to remain among the children.

'Children studying in school have learned to preserve the culture, but many children don't even know how to sign their names, and they forget,' he said.