BHAKTAPUR: The traditional ‘Yenya Punhi Mye Pwa: Khanegu Jatra’ or Tongue Piercing Festival is being held this evening in Madhyapurthimi on the occasion of Ashwin Shukla Poornima.
The festival will commence at 7:00 PM from Digubhairav Dabali, located in Diguli, Madhyapurthimi-5.
This year as well, Birendra Bhakta Gaju Shrestha of Balkumari, Madhyapurthimi-4, will pierce his tongue to continue the time-honored tradition.
Madhyapurthimi hosts two major tongue piercing festivals. The first takes place in Bode during Biskha Jatra every year on Baisakh 2, while the second is held the day after Indra Jatra, on Ashwin Shukla Poornima.
Each festival carries its own distinct significance. In Bode, only one individual performs the tongue piercing, following a fixed circumambulation route. In contrast, during Yenya Punhi Mye Pwa: Khanegu Jatra in Thimi, multiple participants may pierce their tongues, and they are free to choose their own paths for circumambulation.
Birendra Bhakta first pierced his tongue in 2074 BS, followed by subsequent piercings in 2079 BS and again last year. This marks his fourth participation in the ritual.
He expressed his commitment to preserving the cultural and historical legacy of Thimi, stating that his participation is a way to keep the tradition alive. Last year, he visited Pashupatinath, while this year he plans to go to Bhaktapur to attend Datta Yatra and Nava Durga.
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