Nepal Celebrates Ropain Diwas: Planting Rice and Having Fun

Kathmandu, Nepal – On June 30, Nepal celebrated Ropain Diwas, also known as Ashar Pandhra, by planting paddy saplings on terraced farms across the nation. This age-old tradition involves farmers working in mud and water to prepare the fields for rice cultivation.

Farmers like Meera Magar from Lalitpur shared that the celebration has been passed down through generations. Despite a delay due to sparse rainfall, the day was filled with joy as farmers smeared mud on each other’s faces and splashed muddy water for fun.

Since 2005, Ashar 15 has been marked as National Paddy Day, signifying the start of the cultivation season with the onset of the monsoon. The day also features a feast with beaten rice, curd, pickle, and homemade brew, earning it the nickname ‘Dahi-Chiura’ eating day.

In Nepal, paddy is cultivated from the Terai region at 60 meters above sea level to the hills of Jumla’s Chhumchaur at 3000 meters. Annually, Nepal produces about 5.5 million metric tons of paddy, though it consumes 7 million metric tons.