DEUKHURI, September 12: The Tharu community is celebrating 'Atwari' festival today. With a majority of the population living in Banke, Bardiya, Kailali, Kanchanpur and Dang districts, the community celebrates it as a big festival after Maghi.
The festival, which has religious and cultural significance, starts today and ends tomorrow.
According to Tharu culture expert Ashok Tharu, they eat Dar or various delicacies on the first night of the festival including rice and fish. On the second day, most men and women who wish to do so observe fasting.
The festival, which is traditionally celebrated on Sundays or Aitabar in Nepali, is called 'Atwari'. "This is the biggest festival after the Maghi for the Tharus," said Bhuvan Chaudhary, chair of the Tharu Welfare Assembly.
The local levels in the district have announced a public holiday on the occasion of the festival today. Ghorahi, Tulsipur sub-metropolitan municipality, Rapti, Dangisharan and Gadhwa rural municipalities have given public leave today.
