Dhwangkum: Grandfather Libju’s festival

Author: Jean Robert Opgenort
Date of submission: 30 August 2008

Worshipping Libju

The Wambule hold two annual ceremonies in honour of their hill god Libju. The ceremonies are known as लिब्जुसामा Libjusāmā or लिब्जुउपो Libjuupo in Wambule, and they are also known as बिजुवा पूजा bijuvā pūjā ‘Rai shaman worship’ in local Nepali. The related festival with bazaar is known as ढोंकुम ḍhoṃkum or ढ्वाँकुम ḍhvāṁkum in Wambule and डाँडादेव ḍāṁḍādev parva ‘festival of the hill god’ in local Nepali.

Destroyed shrine

The ceremonies for Libju are held twice a year at a sacred place situated on Libju Hill. There used to be a shrine at this place, but the shrine was destroyed some time ago by a number of people who thought that the late King of Nepal महेन्द्र वीरविक्रम शाहदेव Mahendra Vīrvikram Śāhdev had left some money there during a visit.

Full moon offering

The first ceremony is held on the day of the full moon in the middle of the first month, वैशाख Vaiśākh (April-May), or the second month, जेठ Jeṭh or ज्येष्ठ Jyeṣṭh (May-June). The second ceremony, which is performed on the day of the full moon in the fifth month, भदौ Bhadau or भाद्र Bhādra (August-September), is considered the most important one, during which the Wambule people used to kill a black and white bull in the past. A type of beer made from finger millet Eleusine coracana (Nep. कोदो kodo), the grain Setaria italica (Nep. कागुनु kāgunu, कागुनो kāguno) or rice, and some meat and fresh fruits were placed into a large basket, which was carried to the shrine by a young boy or girl. The foods were offered by a nakso ‘family priest’.

Hindu religious laws

Even after Hindu religious laws were enforced all over Nepal, the Wambule continued to worship Grandfather Libju, but they slaughtered buffalo bulls instead of bulls. It is said that nowadays only the Wambule jwamco ‘shaman’ goes to the sacred place on the hill.