Traditional Phalo Festival Begins in Thini Village of Mustang
Dragon Media Correspondent
The traditional Phalo festival celebrated by the local Thakali community has begun in Thini village of Gharpajhong Rural Municipality–3 in Mustang. The festival is observed every year in the month of Bhadra and is known as “Phalo” in the local Thakali language.
Thini is widely regarded as an ancestral settlement of the Thakali community and holds significant historical, religious and cultural importance. According to local residents, the village was once ruled by a Thakali king, and the tradition of celebrating Phalo has continued there for generations.
Ahead of the main festival, village lamas perform a special worship of nature, after which local residents receive their blessings. As the lamas depart for the ritual site, local women traditionally honor them with khadas and flower garlands.
Local lama Shyam Prasad Thakali said the festival involves worshipping the mountains as manifestations of the divine. The rituals are performed with prayers for the protection of the village, freedom from disease, good harvests, safety from natural disasters and peace throughout the world.
Referring to the increasing frequency of natural disasters and the devastating Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa that caused major loss of life and property, he said this year’s prayers would also seek protection from the recurrence of such tragedies.
As part of the pre-festival rituals, local residents of Thini have travelled on horseback to the Namkhulek area for the nature worship. The participating lamas were given a traditional ceremonial farewell by women from the village.
The ritual team will return to the village after two days. The main cultural events of the Phalo festival will formally begin after their return, according to local residents.
Traditional performances including Yak Dance, Jogi Dance and Tamaya Dance will be presented during the festival. The two-day main celebration will conclude with religious rituals, traditional worship and cultural programmes.
