Source::image: myRepublica
The vibrant Chepang community is eagerly preparing to celebrate this year's Chonam (Nwagi) festival, set to take place this Friday. Laxman Chepang, Secretary of the Nepal Chepang Association in Bagmati province, has confirmed the festive occasion and announced that it will be observed tomorrow.
Chepang individuals hailing from regions like Chitwan, Dhading, Gorkha, and Makwanpur will converge in the picturesque locale of Chyangli in Dhading to partake in this grand celebration, organized by the Association itself. For those unable to attend the communal festivities, the festival will be cherished within the confines of their families and local communities.
Integral to the Chepang culture, Chonam holds profound religious significance as the first harvest of the season is traditionally offered to their ancestors before being consumed by the community. The offerings typically include Ghaiya (upland rice), taro root, pomelo, sponge gourd, various grains, and fruits, all dedicated to the Earth and their forebears. It is a joyous occasion for the Chepang people, marking the consumption of the season's inaugural harvest.
Pancha Bahadur Chepang, Chairman of Ward No. 2 in the rural municipality and a member of the Chepang community, shared that this festival is especially cherished as it allows them to savor new and delicious food. For much of the year, Chepang individuals primarily subsist on wild root fruits and sinso (common nettle). However, during Chhonam, they revel in the bounty of their cultivated maize and other fruits, which ripen during this time.
The Chhonam festival sees the participation of Chepang shamans known as "Pande" in their dialect. These shamans perform a sacred ritual involving the sacrifice of a rooster while beating on the traditional dhyangro drum. On this auspicious day, Chepang community members abstain from work, choosing instead to stay at home and immerse themselves in festivities. The celebration includes inviting relatives and neighbors for a collective feast, dancing, singing, and sharing moments of joy and sorrow.
Chonam is deeply ingrained in the lifestyle and culture of the Chepang people, known as "Nwagi" in Khas Nepali vernacular. Recognizing its significance, the Bagmati provincial government has declared a public holiday on Friday for three districts with substantial Chepang populations: Makwanpur, Chitwan, and Dhading.
The Chepang community, with a total population of 84,364 across Nepal, is most concentrated in Chitwan, boasting 35,000 Chepang residents. Traditionally inhabiting the areas surrounding the Mahabharat mountain range north of the Rapti River and east of the Trishuli River, the Chepang population is dense in the western belt of Makwanpur, the northern regions of Chitwan, and the southern belt of Dhading district. The Chonam festival serves as a vibrant testament to their rich heritage and cultural traditions._Rss
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