Kanchanpur, Dec 19: The Sudurpaschim Province Government has declared a public holiday across the province today on the occasion of Bhuwa Parba, a traditional and historic cultural festival indigenous to the region.
A decision taken by the Sudurpaschim Province Cabinet states that all government offices and public institutions throughout the province will remain closed in observance of the festival.
The Bhuwa festival, celebrated with particular prominence in Bajura, Bajhang, and Achham districts, is associated with legends from the Mahabharata epic dating back to the Dwapara Yuga. According to religious beliefs, the festival commemorates the victory of the Pandavas over the Kauravas in the Mahabharata war.
Former ward chairperson of Shuklaphanta Municipality–11, Dil Bahadur Budha, said the traditional dance performed during the festival symbolizes bravery and valor. He noted that with the recent increase in migration from hill districts to the Terai, the festival has gained greater vibrancy in Kailali and Kanchanpur districts as well.
Special cultural programmes featuring Bhuwa and Deuda dances, accompanied by traditional singing that reflects the distinct hill culture, are also organized in urban centers, including Dhangadhi and Mahendranagar.
Budha stated that the festival has played a significant role in strengthening cultural unity between the hills and the Terai. “The Bhuwa festival is not merely a form of entertainment; it is an enactment of battle commemorating legends and historical narratives. The festival begins a day before Poush Krishna Aunsi (the new moon day of the month of Poush) and is celebrated joyfully for three to five days,” he said.
As part of the celebration, men don traditional attire, including white robes and turbans, and carry swords and shields while dancing in circular formations, symbolically enacting battle scenes and collectively demonstrating martial skills. #skill #nepal
