PM Karki Reaffirms Commitment to Preserve Tharu Culture and Identity

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has said that the government is committed to protecting and promoting the indigenous culture, language, and identity of the Tharu community.

Speaking on Thursday at the Tharu National Maghi Festival held in Kathmandu, the Prime Minister said that the Tharu community, which has a strong presence from Kanchanpur in the west to Jhapa in the east and across various districts of the Terai-Madhes, is now spreading not only within the country but also abroad. She said that wherever they go, preserving and following their original culture, language, identity, and traditions is a shared responsibility.

She noted that on Magh 1, different communities across Nepal celebrate festivals under different names, styles, and traditions. Although the ways of celebration differ, she said the essence remains the same, mutual respect, unity, harmony, and coexistence. According to her, promoting peace, stability, and prosperity through mutual harmony, trust, and cooperation has become a national necessity.

She said, “From Kanchanpur in the west to Jhapa in the east, the Tharu community with dense settlements across the Terai-Madhes has today spread from Kathmandu to different parts of the country and abroad. Wherever we go, preserving our original culture, language, identity, and traditions is our shared duty. This awareness is why we are celebrating the Maghi festival so grandly in Kathmandu today. This is the beauty of being Nepali. On Magh 1, communities across Nepal celebrate festivals in different ways, but their core meaning is the same, mutual respect, unity, harmony, and coexistence. We are diverse, yet one. We are plural, yet together. Our diversity makes us complete. On the world map, Nepal stands as a unique example of unity, harmony, and coexistence. This is our true identity and our strength. In today’s time, moving the country toward peace, stability, and prosperity through harmony, trust, and cooperation has become a national necessity. Given the current circumstances, we must move forward with greater restraint and unity. Therefore, by embracing the spirit of these cultural festivals, the government, communities, and citizens must all play active roles in maintaining peace, tolerance, harmony, and national unity. The government remains fully committed to protecting and promoting the indigenous culture, language, and identity of the Tharu community.”

She also stressed the need to move forward with restraint and unity in the current situation.