By Muna Chand
Kathmandu, April 15
The Siruwa Parba, the festival celebrated by indigenous communities in Terai, is being observed since Thursday.
The three-day festivity begins with the Nepali New Year on Baisakh 1 and is mainly celebrated by Rajbanshi, Tharu, Gangai, Tajpuria, and Majhi among other communities.
On the first day, the revelers seek blessings from elders and exchange greetings with each other to foster fraternity and brotherhood.
Also, they worship their clan deity as well as Goddess Kali by making a special worship place-Gramthan-in their house. Rajbanshi Samaj Bikas Samiti’s central member Phulmati Rajbanshi shared, “Siruwa Parba is our biggest festival. We are nature worshipers. On this day we worship Goddess Kali and wear new clothes.”
There is also a tradition of playing with and throwing mud, water, and colors at each other.
The legend has it that the Rajbanshi community throws mud (originally curd) at each other to mark the birth of Lord Krishna.
On the last day, the revelers splash colors at each other, especially the parents by their
children, to conclude the festival.
