Abuses with witchcraft superstition pose challenge: Minister Gurung

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 31: The poster for the film ‘Agni Dahan’ was unveiled during a programme held in Kathmandu on Tuesday. 

Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung released the poster.

Speaking at the programme, Minister Gurung said that witchcraft practices posed a significant challenge to the federal democratic republic.

 He highlighted the necessity of a cultural revolution alongside political and economic changes.

 “Cultural revolution is necessary for the progress of society. In Nepali society, there are still cases of people being killed, beaten and even fed faeces on the accusations of practising witchcraft. Now we have entered the federal democratic republic, and the evil practice is still a big challenge,” said the minister.

 He also pointed out other harmful practices like ‘Hali’, ‘Chhaupadi’, and ‘Haruwa Charuwa’ still prevalent in parts of Nepal and called for a collective effort to eliminate such bad practices.

 The film is an adaptation of the novel ‘Agnidahan’ by writer and journalist Lokmani Paudel.

‘Agni Dahan’ is produced by Rastriya Jagarna Pratishthan Nepal.

 Artistes including Prakash Ghimire, Maotse Gurung, Pramila Tulachan, Tulasi Chhetri, Anupama Bhandari, Tara Bahadur Gurung and Bishnu Bastola among others have done the film.

 The film is directed by Ghanshyam Lamichhane and written by Lokmani Paudel. 

Dirga Gurung has directed the cinematography of the film while Dirga Khadka is the editor and Sagar Pandey is the production designer.

Senior actor and the distributor of the film ‘Agnidahan’ Ashok Sharma said that witchcraft accusations arise from suspicion and target the vulnerable members of society.

 He noted that these accusations are based on matters that cannot be scientifically proven.

Director Ghanshyam Lamichhane said that ‘Agni Dahan’ aims to support the campaign against witchcraft, promoting the idea that no one is a witch. 

The film is scheduled for a nationwide release on November 22.