Praying by bathing with hot milk

By Vijay Kumar Sah,Dhalkebar, Feb. 14: The Musahar community of Sabaila Municipality, Dhanusha, has worshipped the fabled Bhuinya Maharaj by taking a bath with boiling milk. 

Rajendra Sada and Rambali Sada of Bhathihan, Sabaila–9 performed the ceremony by pouring piping hot milk on their bodies, known locally as Apatani Puja, on Sunday. 

This Puja is performed every year in the Nepali month of Magh (January/February) by those members of the Musahar community who get their wishes fulfilled by their clan deities Dina and Bhadri, affectionately called Bhuinya Maharaj, informed local Musahar leader Ram Dayal Majhi. Rajendra and Rambali did the Puja this year because they feel the god answered their prayers.

Talking to The Rising Nepal after the ceremony, Rajendra and Rambali said that the hot milk did not burn them because of the faith they have in the divine Maharaj.

Majhi informed that this Puja could be performed on any day of the month of Magh. In addition to bathing with milk, the devotees also offer betel quid (Paan) and sweets to the god and make a bow and arrow with bamboo. That particular bamboo is also worshipped with much fanfare.

What is Bhuinya Puja?

Bhuinya in Maithili means the ground. Thus, Bhuinya Puja is a worship of the ground or earth. On this day, the Musahars pray to Dina and Bhadri, two brothers born in the sixth century in present-day Saptari. The Musahar community regards them as their guardian gods and celebrates them as great warriors against injustice, tyranny and exploitation.