Kathmandu, January 12

People from Tharu community living in Kathmandu today said that they were going to celebrate Maghi, the biggest festival of the Tharu community as part of their protest.

Tharu National Maghi Festival Main Organising Committee today said that people from the Tharu community have been fighting for their rights since a long time.

Thus, this year, the Maghi Festival will also be celebrated as part of their protest. Maghi, which falls on first day of Magh (the tenth month in the Nepali calendar) has been recognised as a national festival by the government since a decade.

Speaking at a press meet here today, Chandra Prasad Chaudhary, coordinator of the main organising committee said that they were going to boycott the government this year and celebrate the festival on their own as they were protesting to ensure their rights.

He said that they were not going to call any minister in the government or any government representative to the Maghi celebrations this year.

“No minister or government representative will be invited. Rather, Dr Baburam Bhattarai who is already out of government and political party will be the chief guest of our programme,” he said.

The formal programme will be held at Khulamanch where cultural dances, exhibition of items reflecting Tharu culture, handicraft, book exhibition and felicitation will be conducted.