Sujan Pierces Tongue for Fourth Time to Preserve Ancient Festival

Kathmandu, Apr. 16: Sujan Baga Shrestha of Bode, Madhyapur Thimi, pierced his tongue for the fourth time on Wednesday, continuing a rare and centuries-old tradition associated with the local tongue-piercing festival.

The 30-year-old resident of Ward No. 8 undertook the ritual using a 10-inch-long iron needle, aiming to help preserve the fading cultural practice. He has been performing the act annually for the past three years.

The tradition runs in his family—his uncle, Krishna Chandra Baga Shrestha, had pierced his tongue 12 times in earlier years to sustain the ritual. Prior to the ceremony, Krishna Chandra, serving as the Naike (ritual leader), performed special worship of local deities.

Accompanied by traditional Nathakhi music, Sujan was taken in a procession to the courtyard of the Ganesh Temple, where the piercing was carried out publicly. Following the ritual, he toured various parts of Bode for several hours, carrying a half-moon-shaped Mahadeep made from 13 sticks of Nigalo (bamboo).

The iron needle was later removed at the Mahalaxmi Temple, and the wound was sealed with sacred mud from the temple premises. The needle was then placed at the entrance of the Ganesh Temple near the Nrityanath Temple.

In preparation, Sujan observed a strict three-day fast, consuming only water and abstaining from non-vegetarian food, as tradition warns of misfortune if rituals are not properly followed.

According to local legend, the festival traces back to a time when evil spirits plagued Bode. A tantric priest, Bhimadatta Karmacharya, is said to have trapped a vampire (Khyak) by piercing its tongue, forcing it to vow never to harm the community. The ritual later became an annual tradition, symbolizing protection and repentance.

Historical records indicate that only 13 individuals have performed the tongue-piercing ritual over the festival’s 111-year documented history. As per tradition, only members of the Shrestha clan from Bode are eligible to participate.

Believed to have originated during the reign of King Jagajyoti Malla, the festival remains a significant cultural event, drawing anticipation and devotion from locals each year.