Bore - New Year Festival Attractions

The New Year Festival at Bore (or Bode, a village on a steep bank overlooking the River Manohara, 1 km (3/4 mi.) north of Thimi), is marked by an astonishing ritual in honor of the goddess Mahalakshmi. A man, body and soul purified by innumerable preparatory ceremonies, has his tongue pierced with an iron needle. He is then led through Bore with the needle still in place, a bamboo frame holding burning torches resting on his shoulders. At the Mahalakshmi Temple the needle is removed and the wound stopped with earth scraped up from the hallowed ground. Any bleeding is considered a bad omen. A sin-free man, it is said, suffers no pain, instead reaping countless blessings.