Tongue Piercing Festival

The famous tongue-piercing festival was celebrated today at Bode in Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, Bhaktapur. Local Sujan Bag Shrestha continued the tradition for the third time by piercing his tongue during the festival.

After the leaders conducted rituals for various deities, Sujan Bag’s tongue was pierced using a 10-inch-long needle dipped in oil at the platform located in the premises of Pancho Ganesh Temple. After the tongue is pierced, the individual carries a crescent-shaped flame and tours various neighborhoods before reaching Bhangu Tole.

The needle used for piercing the tongue is removed at the Pancho Ganesh Temple and nailed to the Mahalaxmi Temple, marking the end of the festival. This ancient festival, rooted in divine power, has historical, religious, and cultural significance and is associated with the deity Nilbarahi.

According to legend, in ancient times, spirits, ghosts, and other entities residing on either side of Nilbarahi caused suffering to the people of Bode. Today, the residents of Madhyapur Thimi celebrated the morning festival, Sutasiya, by playing with vermilion powder.