Dalits, non-Dalits organise Mahayagya together

By Janarjan Khatri.Sarlahi, Apr. 9: Dalits and non-Dalits have jointly organised a Mahayagya in Chandranagar Rural Municipality-2, Babarganj Parti Bazaar, Sarlahi.

While a recent news from Siraha district in Madhes Province exposed the demolition of a Dalit's house for organising a Mahayagya, Dalits and non-Dalits in Babarganj Parti Bazaar have come together to organise a Mahayagya at the Sabari Kuti Hanuman Temple. In this event, there are no obstacles for the Dalit community in performing any rituals, including worship.

Members of the Musahar community, one of the most marginalised Dalit communities in the Tarai, are participating in the Mahayagya and maing offerings. A young man from the Paswan community, also a Dalit, has been appointed as the chairman of the Mahayagya organising committee.

Manoj Paswan, Chairman of the organising committee, said “There is no discrimination between Dalits and non-Dalits here. The Mahayagya is being conducted with the participation of everyone,” said Paswan. “Dalits and non-Dalits are taking turns in performing the worship,” he added.

The locals of Parti Bazaar have formed a committee comprising 10 Dalits and five non-Dalits to organise the Mahayagya, which has been ongoing since Chaitra 20. Three Dalits and three non-Dalits are involved in the ritual offering.

Bighu Majhi Musahar, Shivaji Majhi Musahar, Chalittar Das Paswan, and non-Dalits Ram Pratap Mahato, Ram Bir Ray, and Ram Nandan Mahato have been assigned to perform the rituals at the Mahayagya site. Bighu Majhi, who was performing the rituals at noon on Monday, mentioned that he did not feel like a Dalit during the prayers.

Bighu shared that Dalits and non-Dalits from the village have been performing the Mahayagya together for five years now. “I don’t feel like I am a Dalit and the other is a non-Dalit; everyone is doing everything together,” he said. “There is no discrimination among us, unlike in other places,” he added.

The Sitaram Mahayagya in Parti Bazaar was organised by Ramchandra Das Bairagi of the Paswan community and Bishnu Das Bairagi of the Musahar community, with contributions collected from various villages and donations from the local community. Ram Ekwal Mahato, treasurer of the organising committee, stated that although he is a non-Dalit, he is participating in the Yagya without any discrimination against the Dalit community.

Mahato added that the Yagya is being conducted to convey the message that all castes should live harmoniously in society. “No one has discriminated against anyone here; we are in favour of all castes living together,” he said.

Mishri Lal Sah Teli, who was reciting the Ramayana at the Yagya, commented that there was no caste-based hierarchy in the event. “This Yagya sends a message that all castes should live together,” said Sah.

Chandranagar Rural Municipality Chairman Rajkumar Mahato noted that a large meeting was held to form an organising committee comprising both Dalits and non-Dalits, under the leadership of two Dalit saints. The committee was formed with participation from the Rural Municipality Chairman, Ward Chairman, party representatives, and local villagers.

Rural Municipality Chairman Mahato believes this initiative sets an example for society, showing the inclusion of non-Dalits in a Yagya led by Dalits. “The Mahayagya in Parti Bazaar challenges the discrimination against Dalits that is occurring elsewhere,” said Mahato. “The rural municipality has also supported and assisted with the Yagya. We have decided to provide Rs. 31,000 from the executive meeting,” he added.

Mahato further claimed that Chandranagar Rural Municipality is the first municipality to implement the Dalit Empowerment Act introduced by the Madhes Province Government.