In Thecho, Matayaa becomes a festival of remembrance and satire

The day after Gaijatra, traditional music filled the streets of Thecho, carrying both the festive energy of Matayaa and the grief left by the Bhotekoshi floods. Participants from Thecho Tahnani Tole led a procession with traditional instruments to honour those who died.

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We paid tribute through the Matayaa festival to those who lost their lives in the natural disaster and expressed solidarity with the families who are mourning.

Gyanlal Maharjan, who led the procession, said Matayaa teaches people to remember the dead and stand with those who mourn. “We paid tribute through the Matayaa festival to those who lost their lives in the natural disaster and expressed solidarity with the families who are mourning,” he said.

The Newa community celebrates Matayaa Jatra, also known as the Festival of Lights, one day after Gaijatra. In Thecho, Godawari Municipality-12, the festival also acts as a public mirror. Through music, performances and satire, participants comment on social problems, irregularities and current issues involving society and the state.

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We feel that foreign powers are trying to push the country into conflict, so we presented this satire to warn mainstream political leaders.

The Mali Gaa Dhime Khalah staged a scene portraying mainstream political leaders as controlled by foreign powers. One performer carried photographs of former prime ministers on his head, while two others dressed as politicians followed a banner reading “Invisible Power.” Baburam Maharjan, the group’s chairperson, said the performance warned leaders about what the group viewed as foreign efforts to push Nepal into conflict.

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No one has shown any effort in looking for those idols. This satire is directed at elected representatives, local guthi leaders, the public and the police administration.

Local artist Krishna Mali used another performance to draw attention to stolen religious idols. He displayed a clay image of the Brahmayani goddess and a paper swan, her vehicle. The Brahmayani idol was stolen in 2017 after the temple was damaged in the 2015 earthquake, while the swan disappeared in 1999. Mali said the satire criticized elected representatives, local guthi leaders, the public and police administration for failing to pursue the missing artefacts. He also pointed to unrecovered idols from Khokana and Lele.

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Stolen idols from places such as Khokana and Lele have yet to be recovered. Through this, we wanted to send a message that the state needs to take the issue seriously.