The Majhi community of Nuwakot celebrated the Ladi festival collectively for the first time on Tuesday. Community members from across the district gathered and organized the “First Ladi Festival and Nature Worship” program. Tej Bahadur Majhi, a community leader, stated that this initiative would help preserve the festival from extinction.
“In the past, Majhis used to ferry people across rivers using boats. However, with the construction of cable crossings, suspension bridges, and concrete bridges, the boat-ferrying profession disappeared,” he said. “Similarly, the traditional livelihood of fishing has also declined significantly.”
Ladi, the most significant festival of the Majhi community, is celebrated on the third Tuesday of the Nepali month of Falgun each year. This year, the Bidur Municipality of Nuwakot in the Bagmati Province allocated a budget for the festival, allowing the community to celebrate it collectively.
In previous years, individuals would leave their homes, perform rituals on the riverbanks, and return. However, this time, financial support enabled a more organized and communal celebration, explained Bidur Municipality Mayor Rajan Shrestha.
Rita Majhi, central chairperson of the Nepal Majhi Women Upliftment Association and former Bagmati Provincial Assembly member, expressed concern that river excavation had put the Majhi profession at risk. She urged that a portion of the revenue generated from natural resources be allocated for the welfare of the Majhi community. She also opposed the government’s decision to grant a public holiday only to the Majhi community, arguing that the festival’s significance should be recognized by all ethnic groups with a general public holiday.
During the event, exhibitions showcased riverside housing, fishing nets, traditional tools, weapons, household items, clothing, and ornaments. Radhika Majhi, chairperson of the Nuwakot Majhi Women Upliftment Association, stated that they expect support from all three levels of government.
According to the Nepal Majhi Association Nuwakot, there are currently 111 Majhi households in the district, comprising 308 women and 326 men. Their primary settlements are located along the banks of the Trishuli and Tadi rivers.
