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Jurshital is an ancient folk festival celebrated across Madhes, akin to Holi, but with the joyous tradition of playing with mud instead of colors. This festival is observed annually before the advent of the New Year in the Bikram Sambat (BS) calendar. It is a social festival enjoyed by all, characterized by fun and merriment. Jurshital is neither entirely cultural nor religious; rather, it is a one-day festivity that brings people together in celebration.

The festival marks the beginning of the New Year in the spring season, a time when the weather is neither too hot nor too cold, creating a soothing and pleasant atmosphere. It is widely celebrated by Maithili, Bhojpuri, Awadhi, and Tharu-speaking communities in southern Nepal, as well as in certain regions of neighboring India. Jurshital usually falls on April 14th or 15th each year, heralding the arrival of the New Year in the Bikram era.

Jurshital embodies a deep connection between nature and humanity. In today’s fast-paced world, people often struggle to appreciate the beauty of nature. As the poet William Wordsworth once wrote:

“The world is too much with us; we have no time to stand and stare.”

This festival serves as a reminder to reconnect with nature. The very name ‘Jurshital’ reflects this essence: ‘Jur’ means connection, and ‘Shital’ means coolness. It symbolizes staying calm and composed, even if just for a day. Playing with fresh, pure mud is believed to have medicinal benefits, acting as a natural remedy for skin ailments and stress.

One of the unique traditions of the festival is the act of seniors pouring cold water on the heads of juniors, signifying blessings and a wish for a calm and peaceful mind. This ritual strengthens social and cultural bonds within the community. Additionally, plants, trees, and animals are also included in the celebrations, as people pour pure and cool water over them early in the morning to maintain the ecosystem.

Jurshital begins with a local ritual called ‘Satuaiyan’ on the first day of Baisakh. The second day, Baisakh 2nd, is marked by the practice of seniors pouring water on juniors’ heads as a gesture of love and well-being. A significant aspect of the festival is the consumption of ‘Satua’, a flour made from roasted gram, which keeps the body cool and is rich in nutrients such as iron and magnesium. This medicinal diet is high in protein and low in sodium, making it an ideal breakfast choice.

Another traditional practice during Jurshital is giving the kitchen a break for a day. People eat food prepared the previous day, which is believed to be cooling for the body and mind. Delicacies such as cold curd-based curry, rice, ‘badi’ (sun-dried lentil dumplings), mango chutney, drumstick (‘Sohijan’) curry, and vegetable fritters are enjoyed. This practice also symbolizes respect for fire, as no cooking is done on the first day of Baisakh.

A significant cultural aspect of Jurshital is the performance of the folk drama ‘Salhesh’, which is especially popular among the Dushadh community. Salhesh, a revered figure in Madheshi folklore, is worshipped as a domestic deity by the Dushadh people, though members of other castes also participate in the festivities. The worship of Salhesh takes place in open spaces, usually under a ‘pipal’ tree on the outskirts of villages. The ritual involves offerings of rice, incense sticks, and sandalwood, among other sacred items.

A priest, embodying Salhesh, performs a trance-like ritual, chanting mantras and engaging in dramatic acts such as walking on the edge of a sword, which devotees believe is a manifestation of divine possession. He then showers flowers and rice upon the audience as a blessing before returning to normalcy.

In the past, the Dushadh community was considered a lower caste in the hierarchical caste system of Madhesh. However, in the present era of democracy and equality, caste-based discrimination has diminished, and the Dushadhs are now regarded as equal members of society. They actively participate in social activities without any distinctions.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that the then King Gyanendra Shah who is involved in criminal activities will not be spared.

He said that while speaking at the meeting of the House of Representatives on Monday.

Saying that pro-monarchy protesters had committed a criminal act on March 28, the Prime Minister said that the former King will not be spared.

“Those involved in the criminal activities will not be exempted from punishment. The former king also will not be spared,” PM Oli said.  “Shouldn't those who say they will become the King again and destroy the system make their views public on all these incidents?” he questioned.

The Prime Minister said that the administration was informed that two political programs will be held in Kathmandu on March 28, highlighting that they would be peaceful.

“The Socialist Front under the leadership of the political parties which have good presence in the Parliament held a demonstration in a grand manner. They made public their views, warned the government and expressed their commitment to the system and Constitution,” he said, adding,” The demonstration was peaceful and I would like to thank the organizers. I believe that this is the way to strengthen our federal democratic republic.”

ALSO READ: Attack on Annapurna Media Network evokes widespread condemnation

He went on to say that the venue at Tinkune was given to another group to hold the protest. “But there was suspicion and confusion about who the organizer was. There were grounds for suspicion about the objectives of the program. The confusion was that among the organizers, there were some leaders of the political parties present in the House,” the executive head of the state said.

“The organizers did not hold protests like they said to the administration. The crowd began to stage the demonstration in a different form and started chanting slogans against the government. The administration tried to control the mob, but they assaulted police personnel, snatched their weapons and even robbed a departmental store,” PM Oli added.

Two persons including a photo journalist at Avenues Television Suresh Rajak died during the violent demonstrations in Tinkune.

The protesters vandalized media houses- the Annapurna Media Network and Kantipur Television. They also set on fire the office of Annapurna Post. Glasses of windows in the buildings were broken in the incident.

They not only caused damages to the media houses and private properties, they also tried to set fire to the airport and attacked police vans and a fire engine which came to put out the fire, he said.

“All of these acts are condemnable. Stern action will be taken against those involved in the such incident no matter who they are,” the Prime Minister added.

He claimed that the former King was responsible for all the incidents.

PM Oli accused the then King Shah of violating the agreement reached after the historic decision of the Constituent Assembly.

At that time, it was agreed that the former King Shah would be allowed to live a peaceful life as a citizen, conduct business activities by exercising the legal and constitutional rights of the citizen, and provide security as the head of the state, the Prime Minister said.

It has also been agreed that he will be allowed to use the Nagarjuna Palace and the building in the Narayanhiti Palace that his mother is using.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Oli said that an investigation has already been started into those involved in the criminal activities and to identify the mastermind behind the violent protests in Tinkune.

Meanwhile, while addressing the Parliament, he warned the lawmakers of Rastriya Prajatantra Party to not engage in destroying the Constitution, reminding them they took the oath of office and secrecy from the same Constitution.

Stresing that now is the time to protect the Constitution, safeguard the rights of the people achieved througha  huge struggle and sacrifice and its successful implementation, the Prime Minister said that the entire House should be united for the same.

“We have heard that various activities are being carried out against the system, democracy and the Constitution. The entire society should be serious at this critical time,” he said.

ALSO READ: A grave attack on press freedom

The violent arson attack on the headquarters of Annapurna Media Network (AMN) is a direct assault on press freedom and democracy. Had the police and security forces not acted swiftly, the situation could have escalated into a devastating tragedy.

Supporters of the pro-monarchy movement stormed our offices, reportedly acting on direct instructions from certain leaders. Their rampage led to extensive vandalism and arson, causing significant damage to our building and infrastructure. Both domestic and international stakeholders must take note—this was not a mere protest but a deliberate attack on independent journalism. Even during the Maoist insurgency and King Gyanendra Shah’s suppression of democracy in 2005, we did not face such a blatant act of violence.

Nepal’s Constitution guarantees press freedom, ranking among the highest in South Asia. However, in practice, independent media houses like ours are facing increasing threats, intimidation, and harassment. These pressures have led to a growing environment of self-censorship. Despite any imperfections, for over three decades, Nepali independent media has exposed corruption, highlighted irregularities, and held those in power accountable. We have consistently defended sovereignty, democracy, and the rule of law—positions that make us a target for corrupt, autocratic, and extremist groups.

We acknowledge concerns regarding media accuracy, balance, and credibility and remain committed to upholding journalistic integrity. However, maintaining ethical journalism does not mean staying silent in the face of such attacks. The events of March 29 were not just an attack on AMN but on the very foundation of democracy. If anyone attempts to silence us through violence, we will respond with our strongest weapon—our words, not force. We stand for peaceful political discourse and pluralism but caution the government against suppressing civil and political rights. There is a clear distinction between political activism and terror activities, and what transpired in Tinkune was an act of creating terror, not politics.

While it may be difficult to establish a direct link between this attack and former king Gyanendra, politically, the connection is evident. On Democracy Day (Falgun 7), he urged the public to support him, triggering a wave of protests. A day before the attack, on March 28, he met with key figures of the movement. Given his history—when he seized power on February 1, 2005, and brutally suppressed press freedom—we have every reason to question his commitment to democracy, freedom of speech, and civil liberties. He must clarify his position regarding these incidents.

This is not the first attack we have endured. Over the past three decades, we have faced threats during the Maoist insurgency, the Madhes movement, and Gyanendra’s direct rule. Even in recent months, political parties like the Rastriya Swatantra Party have attempted to intimidate us for exposing financial misconduct.

In a democracy, every citizen has the right to engage in politics, seek governance, and shape public opinion, but these rights must be exercised peacefully and within the law. No individual or group is above the democratic system, and violence has no place in political discourse. Annapurna Media Network has always stood at the forefront of defending democracy and ensuring political accountability. No amount of intimidation will deter us from our mission. We firmly believe that democracy and republicanism are the ultimate safeguards of press freedom, human rights, and civil liberties—and we will continue to uphold these values, no matter the cost.

The silence of the international community on this blatant attack on press freedom is deeply concerning. At a time when democratic values are under threat, their failure to condemn such violence only emboldens those who seek to suppress the press.

Kamal Dev Bhattarai 

Editor 

The 13th meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Working Group (JWG) on Border Management (BM) was held in Pokhara, Nepal on March 27-28.

In the meeting, the two sides reviewed the decisions taken in the last JWG on BM that took place in New Delhi on 15-16 June 2022, particularly with respect to repair and maintenance of border pillars.

They also deliberated on issues related to trans-border criminal activities; strengthening of border infrastructure particularly ICPs, roads and railway-network; empowerment and capacity building of various security-related institutions; and ways to strengthen cooperation in disaster risk reduction and management.

The JWG on BM also reviewed progress on concluding the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) and the working of Border District Coordination Committee (BDCC) between the two sides.

The two sides agreed to ensure that the meetings of the JWG on BM are held regularly.

The Indian delegation extended an invitation to the Nepali delegation for the next JWG on BM to be held in India next year. Mihir Kumar, joint-secretary (Border Management), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, led the Indian delegation while Ramchandra Tiwari, joint-secretary (Security and Coordination), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Nepal, led the Nepali side.