Karnali, July 17 : The Karnali Province Government has
declared today a public holiday throughout the province on the occasion of
Saune Sankranti and Deuda Parba festival.
The Province Government, Ministry
of Internal Affairs and Law, through a notice issued today, stated that public
holiday has been given today at all the government offices and public
corporations.
Ministry spokesperson Nidhi Raj
Neupane said the notice about the public holiday has been published in line
with a decision made to this effect by the Karnali Province Government on April
12, 2023. \
The cultural festival of Saune
Sankranti and Deuda Parba is celebrated in the districts of upper Karnali and
in Birendranagar today amidst gaiety and fervor by organizing various
programmes.
This festival which is observed on the 1st day of the month of Saun is associated with the ritual of 'ranko balne' and 'luto phalne'. Ranko balne ritual concerns lighting a 'torch of fire' while the 'luto phalne' ritual which literally means 'throwing away the scabies', symbolizes cleansing the body of disease and pollution.
Similarly, the deuda folk song and
dance are performed today on the occasion. (RSS)