Taklung Mela revives Limbu culture in Tehrathum

By Kabi Raj Ghimire,Hile, Mar. 30: Taklung Mela (fair) is held annually in Sudap, Chhathar Rural Municipality-6 of Tehrathum.

The festival takes place for about a week on the occasion of Ram Nawami.

 Running since ancient times, it has preserved local traditions across generations.

The festival becomes especially vibrant as people from the Limbu community participate dressed in their traditional attire.

Anyone attending the festival can directly experience the deep connection between tradition, identity, and community.

At the festival, traditional Limbu cultural dances such as Kelang, Chyabrung, and Dhan Naach are performed.

In the past, the festival used to be celebrated with all-night Dhan Naach and festivities.

However, over time, its form has changed, and now it is mostly limited to daytime. Nevertheless, due to the love and commitment of the local people, its continuity has been maintained, says local Kajiman Aankhewa. “The fair and dances based on Limbu culture that have been practiced since the past are still continuing today,” Aankhewa said.

During the conflict period, many traditional cultural fairs across the country were discontinued, some survived, while others disappeared.

However, this fair was not affected by the conflict and continued uninterrupted. People participate in large numbers not only from Tehrathum but also from neighbouring districts like Dhankuta and Panchthar.

In recent times, however, locals say that the charm of the fair has somewhat declined compared to the past, as fairs are now organised in many places.

To preserve the vibrancy of the fair along with its traditional culture, modern dance competitions, as well as volleyball and football tournaments, have recently been organised, encouraging active participation from youths.

 These activities have kept the fair lively and have helped pass on cultural heritage to the new generation, says Lokman Maden, Chairman of the Machhindra Sports Development Committee.

To maintain the fair’s vitality, the local government has also been allocating a budget every year for its preservation and promotion, running various programmes.

According to Rural Municipality Chairperson Santabir Limbu, the municipality has been supporting efforts to preserve the importance of this fair that has been practised for generations.

The fair has also positively impacted the village economy by boosting local trade, food, and services. Locals say that the Taklung Mela, held every year on the occasion of Ram Nawami, is not just a festival but a powerful symbol of history, culture, and community identity.