Tourism Info Nepal

Religious Tourists Flock to Mangsebung for Kirant Guru’s Birth Anniversary Celebration

Religious Tourists Flock to Mangsebung for Kirant Guru’s Birth Anniversary Celebration

Mangsebung, located in the Mangsebung Rural Municipality-5 of Nepal, is currently witnessing a large influx of religious tourists. The area, known as the religious center for Kirant followers, is hosting the 71st birth anniversary celebration of Kirant religious leader Atmanand Lingden. Kirant followers gather in Mangsebung every year during the third week of Mangsir (Nepali month) to commemorate the occasion.

Since Monday, both domestic and international visitors have arrived, filling the local hotels and homestays. With accommodations fully booked, residents have offered their homes to host the overflow of visitors. According to Kalpana Lingden, the chairperson of Mangsebung Community Homestay, more than a dozen registered hotels and 15 homestays are fully occupied, and some locals have even opened their homes to accommodate the guests.

Around 20,000 religious tourists are gathered in the area, according to Sukdal Seling, a hotel operator in Mangsebung. This large turnout of religious tourists has boosted local businesses, with the village benefiting from the annual event. Narendra Kumar Rai, the ward chairman, noted that the influx of visitors positively impacts the local economy and supports the livelihoods of the residents.

The birth anniversary celebrations attract thousands of visitors, including people from various parts of Nepal, as well as from India, Bhutan, Myanmar, the UK, the USA, Australia, and Denmark. The event features various religious programs, with Minister of Defense Manveer Rai inaugurating the ceremony on Tuesday. The celebration, which will continue until Thursday, includes speeches, blessings, gift distributions, book releases, and community activities.

Atmanand Lingden, born in 1954 in Ebang, Jhapa, is a prominent Kirant religious leader and social reformer who is widely revered for his advocacy of truth, peace, and non-violence. Known for completing the work of national hero Phalgunand Lingden, he has played a crucial role in the religious, cultural, and social transformation of the Kirant community.

Mangsebung, a designated smoke- and alcohol-free area, prohibits the consumption of tobacco and alcoholic substances. The village, which is a key religious site for Kirant followers, can be reached via a rough road from Birtamod, Jhapa, approximately 13 kilometers away. The spiritual and serene atmosphere of Mangsebung makes it a memorable destination for those who visit for religious purposes.

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