Sujan to succeed his father in tongue piercing

By Binu Shrestha,Kathmandu, Apr. 8: Like father, like son. This expression has matched with Buddha Krishna Baga Shrestha and his son Sujan Baga Shrestha, at least in their feat to pierce their tongue. 

Yes, Sujan Baga Shrestha, son of Buddha Krishna Baga Shrestha, will be taking on his father’s mantle and will get his tongue pierced on April 15 this year during Bode’s famous Jibro Chhedne (tongue-piercing) festival. 

Buddha Krishna’s youngest son, 27-year-old Sujan has expressed his willingness to perform the painful act to preserve the over-a-century-old tradition that his father was so dutifully dedicated to.

A resident of Khasi, Bode, Madhyapur Thimi Municipality–8, Buddha Krishna got his tongue pierced a total of nine times between 2005 and 2022. He started in 2005 but had to stop in 2008 due to the death of his mother.

From 2009 to 2015, Juju Bhai Basan continued the tradition. But when he stopped in 2016, Buddha Krishna again stepped up and had been getting a hole poked in his tongue every year till last year, except during the COVID-19 pandemic when the entire festival was stopped.

 “This year though, my son is going to do it,” he said proudly.

“I appreciate my son’s decision and I fully support him,” Buddha said, explaining that one of the key things he needed to learn for his first time was the technique to swallow his saliva after the piercing.

Meanwhile, Sujan is excited. “It is a different feeling,” he expressed. “My father and other seniors will teach me how to hold my tongue before and after getting it pierced.”

Krishna Chandra Baga Shrestha, older brother of Buddha Krishna, who himself has gotten his tongue piercing 12 times, will pierce Sujan’s tongue this year. Dharma Lal Nakarmi, 66, resident of the same locality, has made the iron needle to pierce the tongue. This year, he has made two needles – one for this year and one for the next. 

However, since there is no one to make these needles after him, Nakarmi plans to make around two dozen more and keep them safe for the coming years.

The 10-inch-long spike is painted with a metal primer to prevent rusting and is kept in mustard oil for four days before being used in the Jibro Chhedne festival.

Records show that 13 people have had their tongues pierced in the festival’s 111-year history. Harka Narsingh Shrestha was the first to get his tongue pierced and he did 22 times from 1912 to 1933. After him, Bekha Narayan Shrestha did it for record 32 times from 1934 to 1965. 

Haridev Kila Shrestha got his tongue pierced once in 1966.

Hari Bhasink Shrestha did it thrice from 1967 to 1969 and Indra Bata Shrestha twice in 1970 and 1971. 

Similarly, from 1972 to 1974, Harieshwar Bayan Shrestha got his tongue impaled three times; from 1975 to 1981, Chandrasen Dyo Shrestha did it seven times; from 1982 to 1989, Dil Kumar Khape Shrestha did it in seven times; in 1990, Muni Gho Shrestha did it once, in 1991, Dharma Raj Balay Shrestha did it and from 1992 to 2004, Kirshna Chandra Baga Shrestha pierced his tongue 13 times.