Dutmati Mundan Fair held by shaving heads of Danuwar kids

By Vijay Kumar Sah,Dhalkebar, Feb. 16: A one-day Dutmati Mundan Fair organised by Danuwar community has concluded at Mahendranagar in the Dhanusha district.  

Every year, on the day of Shree Panachami, the community organises Dudhmati Mundan Fair. 

In this festival,  the people of  Danuwar community shave the heads of their children and offer their hair in the Dudhamati Temple. 

Manoj Singh Danuwar, a local, said that it is customary to shave the head of the children of Danuwar community in the temple located here in memory of the ancestors. 

Shaving children’s heads at the temple has been in practice for centuries, he said, adding that people of the Danuwar community bring their children to shave heads and offer hair to the temple. 

“NO matter where they live, this is the single place where the Danuwar community people first shaves their head,” he said. Hundreds of people come here on the day of Basnata Panchami to shave heads of their kids.  

Surti Kumari Sah, Minister for Sports and Social Welfare of Madhes Province, said that the Danuwar community should not forget their tradition, identity, art and culture. 

Stating that art, culture and costumes of all castes are the identity and jewel of the country, he expressed concern over the disappearance of Nepal’s original culture due to the penetration of foreign culture.