The worship of Salhesh is deeply rooted in the traditions of the Dusadh caste, a historically marginalized group within the Madhesi community. Though the caste system continues to influence social structures across the Madhes from east to west, the reverence for Salhesh unites people across caste lines during his annual celebration.
Salhesh, also known as Shailesh—meaning ‘King of the Mountains’—is regarded as the domestic deity of the Dusadhs. He is believed to have lived during the 7th or 8th century in Mahisautha, where he was known as King Jayabardhan Salhesh. He was the eldest of four siblings: his brothers were Motiram and Budhesar, his sister Banaspati, and his niece Karikanha. Banaspati was known as the mother queen of Bagh Fort. The stories of Salhesh form the basis of a vibrant dance-drama performed by a priest, accompanied by a large traditional drum known as the dholak.
According to tradition, Salhesh was the first chaukidar (night watchman) of the village, earning him heroic status within the Dusadh caste. Their traditional role was to guard villages at night, receiving paddy and coins as payment. In every village across the Madhes region, there exists a shrine dedicated to Salhesh, known as Salhes Sthan. These shrines, usually found under the sacred peepal tree on the village outskirts, consist of clay platforms representing characters from Salhesh folklore.
Worship at these shrines is conducted with deep reverence. Devotees offer rice, incense, sandals, and other ritual items, accompanied by folk songs, such as this one from the Salhesh Ballad:
Khan khan rahaichhi ham Beluka Garhme
Khan rahaichhi Sarabag me
Manik Dah me snan karatchhe, Garh pokhari me Mai sumarait chhi
Bhagaichhi ta yeki Maliniya ke khatir
Gadhpakariya me Maiya ke sumirichhi
(Sometimes I live in Belukagarh, sometimes in Sarabag.
I bathe in Manik Dah and remember Mother Goddess Durga.
I wander in search of my beloved Maliniya,
And recall the goddess in Gadhpakariya.)
As a young man, Salhesh is said to have bathed daily in Manik Dah, a local pond, before heading to a garden—now known as Salhesh Phulbari—to pluck fresh flowers for his beloved. These routines have become symbolic rituals reenacted during worship. Salhesh is revered not only as a historical figure but as a cultural icon whose myth is woven into the social fabric of Mithila, both in Nepal and across the border in India.
As cultural expert Prem Khatri puts it: “Salhesh lives in the minds of the people of Mithila—from Nepal Tarai to the holy Ganges in India. His legends blur national borders, allowing human connection to transcend political boundaries during festivals like Ram Navami (Chaite Dashain).”
The dance-drama honoring Salhesh is performed annually with grandeur, resembling a village fair. While the deity is primarily worshipped by the Dusadh community, people of all castes participate. The rituals are conducted in open spaces, without elaborate temple structures. A priest, believed to be spiritually possessed by the deity, leads the ceremony. He shivers, chants mantras, walks on the edge of a sword, and distributes rice and flowers as blessings—actions meant to signify Salhesh’s divine presence.
Renowned Indian scholar Radha Krishna Chaudhary writes: “It is practically a one-man show—the priest trembles, shouts, walks on swords, sings ballads, and blesses the audience. The entire performance is thrilling, sometimes inspiring, and often a delight to the senses.”
Salhesh is especially honored during the Nepali New Year at places like Mahisautha, Salhesh Phulbari, and Patari Pokhari. In Siraha, the Haram tree near Salhesh’s temple is a source of wonder. Each year, a white garland mysteriously blooms in the tree’s center, believed to represent Salhesh’s unfulfilled lover, Dauna Malin. Legend has it she appears once a year in floral form to spend a fleeting moment with Salhesh before fading away. Despite local botanists’ interest, this phenomenon remains unexplained and continues to attract pilgrims and researchers from both Nepal and India.
Historically viewed as a lower caste, the Dusadhs—also known as Paswan—were denied equal status for centuries. However, in modern democratic Nepal, caste-based discrimination is on the decline, and all communities are increasingly seen as equals. Today, Dusadhs participate fully in social and civic life, and their patron deity, Salhesh, has become a symbol of resilience, pride, and cultural identity.
Another important site, Salhesgarh, contains an ancient mound believed to be linked to the deity. It houses a small shrine (Gahwar) to Salhesh, now in a state of neglect but still held sacred by the community.
