Papini festival held in Rukum

By Raju Lamichhane,Rukum West, Jan. 30: The traditional 'Papini' festival has concluded here with a wedding between two girls in Sankh village,  Musikot Municipality-7. 

This year, the bride is brought to Taligaun from Mathigaun. 

Sangkadah located in the middle of Sangkha village separates Mathigaun and Taligaun. 

This year, Taligaun asked for the bride from Mathigaun and a wedding took place accordingly. Last year, Taligaun sent the bride to Mathuigaun. This tradition has been in practice for years in this particular village. 

Papini festival is held for three days by completing all the rituals of a marriage like seeking a bride,  taking a marriage procession to the bride’s home, returning with the bride and throwing a wedding party.  All these events are held in ‘Papini Mela’ of Sankh village every year. 

Tradition has it that the locals go to ask for the hand of the girl on Magh 14, they visit the bride’s home with a procession playing musical instruments on Magh 15 and return home the same day taking the bride.  

According to a legend, a disaster occurred in the village due to a monster named Kalsuro. The monster used to search girls in the village for romance. Fed up with the demon’s activities, locals arranged a marriage between girls at Sankhadaha and offered worship to Simlanath to ward off the demon.  

After the ritual, the demon stopped harassing the locals, and the tradition of organing Papaini Mela and arranging a fake marriage between girls began, said ward chairman Ekka Bahadur Pandey.

“Although a fake wedding, locals observe it with much fanfare for three days,” he said. 

Both village girls are placed in the roles of bride and groom. However, only the unmarried girls play the role of parents from both sides, take part in the marriage procession and enjoy the feast.  These girls who participate in the marriage procedure are called 'Papini'.

Ward chair Pandey said that the girls who arrange and participate in the tradition are named 'Papini'. To be a ‘Panini', one has to have three qualifications. They should be from the indigenous community, unmarried and possess dancing skills. 

Purna Bahadur Budha, a local leader, said that this is a tradition rather than a ritual or compulsion.

As per the legend, the practice of dramatic marriages started at Sankhadaha when people started inhabiting the village. 

There are also traditions of hitting with nettle leaves and fining. Making fires, playing nettle leaves and dancing are other key activities of the Papini Mela.