The Karnali Province Government has declared today a public holiday throughout the province on the occasion of Saune Sankranti and Deuda Parba festival.The Province Government, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law, through a notice issued today, stated that public holiday has been given today at all the government offices and public corporations.

Ministry spokesperson Nidhi Raj Neupane said the notice about the public holiday has been published in line with a decision made to this effect by the Karnali Province Government on April 12, 2023.

The cultural festival of Saune Sankranti and Deuda Parba is celebrated in the districts of upper Karnali and in Birendranagar today amidst gaiety and fervor by organizing various programmes.

This festival which is observed on the 1st day of the month of Saun is associated with the ritual of ‘ranko balne’ and ‘luto phalne’. Ranko balne ritual concerns lighting a ‘torch of fire’ while the ‘luto phalne’ ritual which literally means ‘throwing away the scabies’, symbolizes cleansing the body of disease and pollution.

Similarly, the deuda folk song and dance are performed today on the occasion.