London,
On September 25, 2025, the 159th Memorial Day of martyrs Ramlihang and Ridama, who were hanged to death for refusing to celebrate Dashain, was observed along with an interaction program on Dashain and Indigenous issues.
The program was organized by the Dashain Abandonment and Indigenous Festival Awareness Forum. In the virtual interaction, Dr. Krishna Bhattachan, Angkaji Sherpa, Nanda Kandangwa, and Salik Rai gave presentations. Following their presentations, many among the nearly 70 participants asked questions, while some provided additional insights.
The program saw participation from various districts of Nepal, as well as from abroad, and from many different ethnic groups. The interaction program, which has been held regularly for the past seven years, also issued a proposed appeal along with a seven-point declaration this year.
The program, chaired by activist Nima Pangsua, was conducted by Amit Thebe, one of the founders of the forum. Organizers also announced that, as in previous years, a memorial gathering will be held on the day of Dashain Tika at the statue of cultural martyrs Ramlihang and Ridama in Chuliban, Dhankuta. Similarly, in Ashford, UK, a gathering will also be held to pay tribute to the martyrs and discuss the issues related to Dashain.
Declaration
September 25, 2025
On the occasion of the 159th Memorial Day of martyrs Ramlihang and Ridama, who were hanged to death for refusing to celebrate Dashain, and during the interaction program on Indigenous Peoples and Dashain, a total of 74 participants from within Nepal and abroad took part with great enthusiasm. After extensive discussions and debates with the collective presence of people from various ethnic communities, the following seven-point declaration is issued:
1. Since Indigenous peoples, who do not fall under the Varna-Ashrama system, have become oppressed and victimized due to Dashain, which fosters a colonial mindset and increases poverty, it is concluded that this forcibly imposed festival must be abandoned in order to be free from such exploitation.
2. To request and pressure schools not to apply Dashain Tika, and not to send children to schools that practice it.
3. Indigenous peoples themselves should refrain from wearing Tika or celebrating Dashain, encourage others not to do so, while at the same time respecting religious tolerance.
4. In cases where it is technically impossible to completely abandon Dashain, at the very least, not applying Tika to new children so that its influence does not pass on to the next generation.
5. To urge the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities and ethnic upliftment organizations to issue an annual appeal in simple and accessible language during Dashain, reminding people that Dashain is not our festival and should not be celebrated.
6. To raise awareness that the unnecessary and wasteful celebration of Dashain causes heavy expenses, which in turn pushes Indigenous peoples deeper into poverty.
7. To organize a memorial gathering every year on the day of Dashain Tika in honor of the cultural martyrs Ramlihang, Ridama, and Lalseer Sendang.
— Dashain Abandonment and Indigenous Festival Awareness Forum
