Jhakri Mela in Nepal (Shaman Festival )

The traditional dance is performed in Lukum every year during the Sawan Sankranti festival. This dance is also known as Rake Tiwar, which means Jhakri Ram. The festival, celebrated as Tiwar and Rake, holds great significance in the Magar-dominated areas of the district.

Every year, during the first week of the Nepali month of Sawan—especially on Tuesdays and Saturdays—shamans (Jhakris) from different places gather in Lukum to celebrate this unique tradition.

According to Bir Prasad Gharti Magar, a local cultural campaigner, in ancient times a divine disaster caused one person to fall victim to witches and demons in the area every day. Later, Bhairam Jhakri appeared in Lukum to save people from such casualties by appeasing the witches and demons.

It is believed that Bhairam Jhakri, dressed in decorative clothes, beating his drum, and chanting powerful mantras, subdued the witches. He pushed them underground, crushed them with a huge stone, and then disappeared forever. To commemorate this event, a Jhakri fair is held every year at the place where the witches were buried.

Ruji Dhan Gharti Magar, a local resident, explained that on this day Jhakris also observe each other’s planetary positions. On the first Tuesday or Saturday of Sawan, they gather on the riverbank to chant mantras.

According to belief, the witch emerges from the river, drawn by the power of the mantras, hoping to find food. At that moment, the Jhakris capture the witch through their chants, shouting “Rakse Ayo!” before rushing toward a place called Jholeri Bisauni to subdue her.

每年的薩旺桑克蘭蒂節(Sawan Sankranti)期間,盧庫姆(Lukum)都會表演這種傳統舞蹈。這種舞蹈也被稱為「拉克·蒂瓦爾」(Rake Tiwar),意為「賈克里·拉姆」(Jhakri Ram)。這個節日也被稱為“蒂瓦爾”(Tiwar)和“拉克”(Rake),在該地區以瑪嘉族為主的地區具有重要意義。

每年尼泊爾歷薩旺月(Sawan)的第一周,尤其是週二和週六,來自不同地方的薩滿(Jhakris)都會聚集在盧庫姆,慶祝這一獨特的傳統。

據當地文化活動家蒂拉克·瑪嘉(Bir Prasad Gharti Magar)稱,在古代,一場天災導致該地區每天都有一人淪為巫師和惡魔的受害者。後來,拜拉姆·賈克里(Bhairam Jhakri)出現在盧庫姆,透過安撫巫師和惡魔,拯救人們免於此類災難。

據說,拜拉姆·賈克里身著華麗的服飾,敲著鼓,吟誦著強大的咒語,制服了巫師。他把她們推入地下,用巨石壓死,然後永遠消失了。為了紀念這一事件,每年都會在女巫埋葬的地方舉辦賈克里節(Jhakri)市集。

當地居民蘇尼爾·羅卡(Ruji Dhan Gharti Magar)解釋說,賈克里節的人們在這一天還會觀察彼此的行星位置。在薩旺月(Sawan)的第一個星期二或星期六,他們會聚集在河岸上吟誦咒語。

根據傳說,女巫會受到咒語力量的吸引,從河浮出水面,希望能找到食物。這時,賈克里節的人們會透過吟誦抓住女巫,高喊“Rakse Ayo!”,然後衝向一個叫做喬萊裡·比薩烏尼(Jholeri Bisauni)的地方,將她制服。