Dang. The Tharu community of Western Terai is celebrating Atwari festival today (Bhadra 8) by organizing various programs. This is an important festival for them.

It is a tradition in the community to fast all day on Friday (Bhadra 6) night and to cook roti in the evening and eat it after offering it to the deity, and to cook rice and vegetables on Sunday morning and only after offering it to the deity.

According to Saraswati Chaudhary, a Tharu leader of Ghorahi Sub-metropolitan City-17, after cooking the roti, they also offer curd, fruits, etc. to the fire god and eat the dishes prepared separately for the sisters (Agrasan).

“Atwari festival is an important festival, as important as Teej of Hindus. In our community, brothers observe fast without even drinking water for the good fortune of their sisters,” she said, “This festival has a special significance in the Tharu community.”

On the first day of the fast, food is served after offering agrasana to the fire god. On the second day, rice and vegetables are cooked in the morning and rice and vegetables are offered as agrasana, said Suraj Chaudhary of Ghorahi Sub-metropolitan City-3.

“During this festival, especially brothers observe fast for the good fortune of their sisters. This festival is celebrated on the first Sunday after Kusei Aunsi,” he said.

According to him, the Atwari festival ends when the brothers reach their sisters’ houses. The Tharu community believes that this festival also strengthens the relationship between brothers and sisters. Fruits, rotis and various kinds of dishes are brought to their sisters’ homes.

According to mythology, the Atwari festival is also celebrated by worshipping Bhima. Tharu Sanskritist Ashok Chaudhary says that the Tharu community has been considering the sun as a symbol of light. The Atwari festival is linked to a historical event.

This festival is related to the Tharu king Dangisharan of Dang and Bhima among the five Pandavas. The five Pandavas of the Mahabharata and the Tharu king Dangisharan of Dang had a good relationship for a long time. When the Pandavas and Draupadi were all visiting Kankrevihar in Surkhet, after hearing the news that the enemies were going to attack Dangisharan’s kingdom, Bhima left the roti he was cooking on the pan and fought on his side without even drinking water on an empty stomach. Bhima fought on the side of King Dangisharan and succeeded in defeating the enemy. On the occasion of that victory festival, the Tharu community celebrates Atwari. To become strong like Bhima, men of the Tharu community observe a fast without even drinking water.

Meanwhile, the Lumbini Province government has declared a public holiday today on the occasion of the Barka Atwari festival of the Tharu community. The public holiday has been declared in six districts of Lumbini Province where the Tharu community is mostly settled.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law has made public the notice declaring a public holiday in Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu and West Nawalparasi, where the Tharu community is increasingly settled. (RSS)