Rice Day – Asar 15, Dahi – Chiura Day

This festival falls in June towards the end of the month. In 2022 – Ashar 15 is on June 29.

A traditional festival of Nepal that falls on the 15th day of the Nepali month, Ashad, is the festival of paddy plantation to produce rice – the main staple of food source in Nepal. On that day, people eat beaten rice with yoghurt (called Dahi-Chiura in Nepali). The Nepal government has also recognized this festival as a national festival on the year 2062 BS and is named the Dhan Diwas (Paddy Day).

According to the popular belief, if one touches wet mud on this day, one would be healthy, would earn good omen and will get recognition in the society.

Actually it is the indication that the rainy season has started. The farmers start planting paddy on their fields. As rice needs a lot of water, rice plant is planted in the field filled with water. It is also the start of the work season for farmers as many people are busy in their fields.

To celebrate the season, people sing traditional songs while playing musical instruments – others make fun by playing with the mud. In addition to singing songs about life and work, youth boys and girls sing about love and relationship. Some express their feelings towards the one they are chasing for. The ropai festival is very fun filled and interesting. People splash each other by mud and they get dirty while having fun and getting the work done. This is a very interesting tradition to make work more fun that the work.

Ashar 14 Words:

Ashad – The third month of Nepali calendar after Jestha and before Shrawan.

Pandhra – The number 15 in Nepali language

Dahi – Curd / yoghurt

Chiura – Beaten Rice

Khet – Field

Dhan – Rice in it’s cover, Paddy

Hilo – Very wet mud

Ropai – planting

Ropahar – The people who plant rice

Bause – The person who use bauso – a traditional digging tool

Hali – A person who plough by using halo – a traditional tool dragged by two ox.

Why do we eat Dahi Chiura in Ashad 15?

Dahi chiura is one of the main complimentary dish in Nepal. It is more popular in Kathmandu valley. Dahi being a milk product, it has all the nutrients for a person who has worked hard on field. Working an playing on mud and water is tiring experience. While yogurt improves the digestive system – chiura a rice product is filling and provides the energy. The pro-biotic yogurt is known to help in making skin healthy and help repair damages created by the sun. The common staple food chiura is full of carbohydrate and fat. The healthy carbohydrate is known to keep one filled for a long time. The most important thing is, chiura is the product of the paddy crop that is being planted on the Ashad 15th.