Muglin (Chitwan), March 13: The Gurung community is celebrating the 'Mey Thalen Priba', the community’s traditional archery festival, today.
The festival is celebrated every year on Phagu Poornima as the day when the Gurung community acquired the knowledge of using the bow and arrow, a traditional weapon used to protect their existence and hunt in ancient times.
Along with archery, the use of spears, throwing a javelin, and wrestling also feature during the festival.
As per legends, this festival is being celebrated as the day when the Gurungs succeeded in testing the bow and arrow received from the Mahaguru of the Gurungs, says Bikram Gurung, president of Tamu Pye Lhu Sangh, a not-for-profit organization that works to preserve and promote Gurung religious and cultural customs and practices.
Meanwhile, as part of the festival celebration, a district-level archery competition and a discussion program are being held today at Nauranga, Bharatpur-11, Chitwan.