Majhi community marks Ladi festival

BY BABURAM KARKI,Barahakshetra, Mar. 5: The Majhi community, which has been celebrating the traditional Ladi Puja for centuries, gathered at the Saptakoshi River to observe the festival collectively. This marginalised community celebrates Ladi on the third Tuesday of Falgun every year.

This year, the community marked the occasion by worshiping water deities such as Jal Devi and Seti Devi, as well as offering a panchabali (animal sacrifices). They also performed rituals by worshiping stones as gods, along with bamboos, boats, fish-catching nets and fishing rods along the banks of the Saptakoshi River, located at the border of Ward Nos. 7 and 2 of Barahakshetra Municipality.

Ghanshyam Majhi, the district president of the Nepal Majhi Uththan Sangh in Sunsari, explained that the Majhi community, whose livelihood has long been tied to fishing and boating, continues the tradition of praying to the Koshi River to ensure that no obstacles or harm occur while fishing or rowing boats. Majhis from across Sunsari gathered with joy and enthusiasm to perform ritualistic worship and celebrate the festival.

Ganga Majhi, the treasurer of Barahakshetra Municipality's Majhi Uththan Sangh, said that Ladi Puja is especially significant for the Majhi community because their lives are so closely connected to river-based resources.

On the eve of Ladi Puja, Majhi families clean their homes. Early in the morning, all family members bathe and wear new clothes before joining the collective Koshi Puja. After the puja, the community celebrates with dancing, singing and enjoying sweet treats prepared along the riverbank, while exchanging well-wishes.

Likewise, Majhi community in Sarlahi and Dhankuta also celebrated the Ladi Puja. Various Majhi communities residing in five municipalities of Sarlahi visited the nearby water resources to perform the puja.