BAITADI, April 14: The Bishu festival which is celebrated as the beginning of the New Year is being observed with much fervor and enthusiasm in the districts of Sudurpaschim Province today.

The women homemakers are busy cooking various food items and sweets like Nisause, Rot and Mada for the festivities. People also enjoy a pudding of rice grains soaked in curd.

One of the unique characteristics of this festival is that brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law hit each other with nettle soaked in water as a fun and custom. It is believed that hitting each other with nettle foliage soaked in water helps prevent skin diseases. However, this tradition is gradually vanishing, local Jayananda Bhatta said. "The fun of the past tradition is vanishing," he added.  

Likewise, married women are preparing to pay a visit to their parental homes with gifts as part of the festivities. The people from the region who have gone to India for employment visit their families to celebrate the Bishu festival together with their family members. There is the custom of eating 'gatani dubka', a local food item, in the morning on New Year's Day.

The festival is believed to commemorate the birthday of Bikramaditya, an ancient Hindu emperor and his valor.

 
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