Memorial Gatherings Held on Dashain Tika Day to Honour Ramlihang and Ridama, Who Refused to Celebrate the Festival
DHANKUTA, October 21, 2026 — Memorial gatherings were held on Dashain Tika day in remembrance of Ramlihang and Ridama, two martyrs who refused to celebrate Dashain in defence of their culture and identity.
At a gathering in Chuliban Jhundadanda, Dhankuta Municipality–7, participants paid tribute to the two martyrs and remembered their contributions and struggle.
According to historical accounts, in 1933 BS, the then Rana rulers issued an order requiring people to celebrate Dashain. Ramlihang and Ridama, ancestors of the Athpahariya community, opposed the directive and maintained their refusal to observe the festival. They were hanged and shot dead. The community has since remembered them as cultural martyrs who fought to defend its culture, traditions and existence.
Speakers at the memorial included Sanjay Santoshi Rai, outgoing chair of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities in Dhankuta; Santabir Lama, outgoing chair of the Federation of Nepalese Indigenous Nationalities Journalists (FONIJ), Province No. 1; Birlal Walahang Rai, central chair of the Mongol National Organisation DGG; its central secretary, Dinesh Bantawa Rai; Sarkumari Athpahariya, a community leader and former central chair of the Kirat Athpahariya Society; and journalists Nima Pongsuwa and Bhairav Angla.
Remembering the cultural martyrs’ sacrifices, speakers emphasised the need to preserve their history, contributions and struggle for identity. Leaders and representatives of various organisations advocating for identity rights attended the programme.
The Athpahariya are among the Indigenous communities that remain firmly committed to their customs, culture and traditional clothing. Traditional garments, including the mekhli and chhitasin worn by women and the hangchang and tagaba worn by men, have been preserved.
Kirat Athpahariya Society Nepal has held a memorial gathering on Dashain Tika day in Chuliban, Dhankuta, every year since 2020. This year marks the sixth year. Commemorative events were also held in Dharan and the United Kingdom. NepaliSamachar.com initiated a memorial gathering in Ashford, UK, in 2019. The programme subsequently began in Dhankuta through coordination with the local community.
For the past few years, the Forum for Renouncing Dashain and Raising Awareness of Indigenous Festivals has issued public appeals. This year, discussions were also held repeatedly on TikTok Live. A commonly expressed view is that cultural colonisation has subjected Indigenous peoples to exploitation and that celebrating their own festivals is necessary for their emancipation.
At the initiative of the Athpahariya Society, statues of Ramlihang and Ridama were erected in Chuliban with approximately Rs 100,000 allocated from Dhankuta Municipality’s budget. The annual memorial gathering continues to take place at the site.
