Tharu community celebrates Dashain with Dhikri Puja
Summary
The Tharu community celebrates Dashain with Dhikri Puja, Pitri Puja and the traditional Gaunlya Tika ceremony, preserving rituals passed down through generations. Villagers gather for Barkimar songs, ancestral worship and traditional dances across Tharu settlements in Dang.
Key Points
- The Tharu community marks Dashain with Dhikri Puja on Ashtami, offering the rice-flour food to household deities for prosperity.
- The rituals include Pitri Puja, Barkimar songs at Bhuihyar Than and the Gaunlya Tika ceremony with a white tika.
- Women prepare Dhikri while men fast, and family members gather to eat the blessed offering as prasad.
- Traditional dances such as Sakhya and Paiyan are performed for three days after Gaunlya Tika, adding to the festive atmosphere.
