Bhume Naach of Kham people in Nepal

Bhume Naach, also known as Bal Puja, is a vibrant festival celebrated by the Kham Magar community in Nepal's mid-western region. This unique festival centers around a folk dance performed around a fire to honor the Earth, which the Kham Magar people revere as a deity providing shelter, food, and sustenance. The festivities take place from mid-May to mid-June, with the main event occurring in the first week of June.

The preparations for Bhume Naach commence with the selection of young boys and girls to gather water, soil, and flowers from a hill or mountain considered sacred by the village. These collected items play pivotal roles in various rituals, including the sacrifice of a baby goat. The celebration is a lively affair filled with singing, dancing, and the rhythmic beats of instruments like the modal and drums. The goat sacrifice serves as a potent symbol of the Earth, representing happiness, peace, and love.

One of the festival's highlights is the Patho ritual. In this ceremony, a boy leads a baby goat around the village, while villagers gently tap it with sticks. Women and girls line up to pour various items over the goat. This procession culminates in the goat being sacrificed at a designated ritual spot. Following this, the entire village comes together for a communal meal and an exchange of gifts, which leads up to Balpuja—a ritual dance expressing respect and gratitude to the Earth.

During the dance, village boys take center stage while girls distribute flowers around them. This dance is a profound expression of the Kham Magar people's deep connection to nature and their belief in the Earth as the source of all life. The festival concludes with participants singing poignant songs and receiving blessings from their elders, marking the end of this deeply meaningful celebration.