The Nepal Magar Association-Qatar (NMA) celebrated the 34th Magar Day recently at Al Nakyan Hotel in Najma.
The programme focused on the history, language and culture of the Magar community, and highlighted a democratic republic with ethnic identity and self-governance-based federalism in Nepal.
Magar are one of the oldest ethnic and indigenous people of Nepal. They originally hail from the west and south of Dhaulagiri Mountain to the Mahabharata foothills in the south and Kali Gandaki River Basin in the east.
The programme started with a patriotic song and remembrance of the first martyr of Nepal, Lakhan Thapa. In his welcome speech, Sher Bahadur Roka Magar talked about the importance of the day and the political rights of the community.
The programme witnessed various cultural performances by Magar artistes. Dancers essayed folk dances—Tappa, Bhumyaha and Hurra—and singers performed folk and modern songs.      
The programme was chaired by NMA president Mahendra Thapa Magar. Non-Resident Nepalese Federation of Indigenous Nationalities chairman Shiyaram Chaudhary was the chief guest.
NMA felicitated sponsors, volunteers, players and artistes who assisted the organisation during the Magar Sankranti Celebration in January. NMA also announced artistes Kanchan Rai, Maili Maya Waiba Tamang and Roshika Lama as its honorary members.
NMA used the occasion to give a farewell to its centre committee member, Khamba Raj Thapa Magar. Khamba is returning to Nepal soon. The new cultural Magar King River Thapa Magar was also crowned by Rabin Thapa Magar, the outgoing Magar King.