Sujan Bag Shrestha Continues Bode’s Historic Tongue Piercing Ritual (PHOTOS)

“The ‘Tongue Piercing Festival’, celebrated every Nepali New Year on the 2nd of Baisakh in Bode, Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, was celebrated with great enthusiasm this year as well.

This year, 28-year-old Sujan Bag Shrestha continued the festival by piercing his tongue for the third time.

Sujan, the youngest son of 50-year-old Buddha Krishna Bag Shrestha of Bode, who had been continuing the festival by piercing his tongue for the ninth time, took over the tradition two years ago.

After Krishna Chandra Bag Shrestha pierced his tongue 12 times, his brother Buddha Krishna Bag Shrestha continued the festival by piercing his tongue nine times.

According to the tradition, after offering four “dam” (a type of offering), the person piercing their tongue must not touch impure individuals, women, those who have observed ‘Jutho’ or ‘Sutak’ (periods of ritual impurity), must not eat impure food or salt, and must not leave the town of Bode.”