Sujan Shrestha to Pierce Tongue for the Third Time in Bode’s Traditional Festival

Twenty-eight-year-old Sujan Bagha Shrestha will pierce his tongue for the third time during the ‘Tongue Piercing Festival’ celebrated every New Year on Baisakh 2 in Bode, Madhyapurthimi Municipality.

Sujan is the youngest son of 50-year-old Buddha Krishna Bagha Shrestha of Bode, who pierced his tongue nine times as part of the festival. Buddha Krishna’s elder brother, Krishna Chandra Bagha Shrestha, pierced his tongue 12 times.

Sujan said that he is ready to get his tongue pierced this year as well to preserve and give continuity to the festival.

As per tradition, the tongue piercing takes place in the presence of thousands of devotees on the premises of the ancient Pancho Ganesh Temple. After piercing the tongue, the person carries a crescent-shaped lamp and circumambulates the city of Bode. After circumambulating the Mahalakshmi Temple in Bode, the needle from the tongue is removed and stuck to the Mahalakshmi Temple.

So far, there is a history of 13 people who have pierced their tongues continuously for the past 108 years.