Why Magar Adventure ?

Sundar Thapa Magar, founder of this trekking agency, is from the Magar community of Nuwakot district, center of Nepal. Being a Magar, we want to highlight this community and contribute to its recognition amongst the Nepalese peoples’ diversity.

 Magar

The original home of the Magar people was in the west of Gandaki River, in that portion of Nepal located around Gulmi, Arghakhanchi and Palpa. This bit of country was divided into twelve districts known as "Bahra Magarat" (Confederation of Twelve Magar Kingdoms), which included the following regions of that period: Arghakhanchi, Bhirkot, Dhor, Garhung, Ghiring, Gulmi, Isma, Musikot, Pyung, Rising, Satung and Pyung. During the medieval period, the whole area from Palpa to Rukum Rolpa was called the "Magarat", a place settled and inhabited by Magars. Another Confederation of Eighteen Magar Kingdoms known as “Athara Magarat” also existed, and was primarily inhabited by Kham Magars.

The Magar speak a language of the Tibeto-Burman family. The northernmost Magar are essentially Buddhists, while those farther south have come under strong Hindu influence. Lot of Magar comunities also follow Bon religion and Shamanism.

Most of them draw their subsistence from agriculture. Others are pastoralists, craftsmen, or day labourers. Along with the Gurung, Rai, and other Nepalese ethnic groups, they have won fame as the Gurkha soldiers of the British and Indian armies, and many have continued to pursue military careers. In Nepal the Magar numbered about 1.6 million in the early 21st century, constituting one of the country’s largest minority groups.

Maghe Sankranti is considered to be one of the most important annual festivals of the Magar community. It is celebrated on the first day of Magh (10th month of the Nepali calendar, in mid-January), a time that marks the transition from winter to spring. According to the Magar terminology, Maghe Sakranti commemorates the end of udheli (literally 'down'), which is a period that lasts for six months starting from mid-July, and the initiation of ubheli ('up'), the period lasting for another six months starting from the mid-January. The down and up periods probably correspond to the annual cycle of herding livestock up and down from high pastures, a historically important economic activity of the Magars. Traditional Magar songs and dances are also performed.

Source : Wikipedia and Encyclopedia Britannica