Jujubhai Shrestha, renowned for bravado of piercing tongue every year in ‘Jibro Chedne Jatra’ (Tongue Piercing Festival) in Baisakh 2, has announced to renounce from this traditional activity. The 38-year-old resident of Bode in Bhaktapur organized a press conference in Bhaktapur on Thursday to inform on his retirement. Jujubhai had been piercing his tongue for eight consecutive years in the Festival which is a part of the centuries-old nine-day Bisket Jatra celebration. Citing personal reasons for retirement, Jujubhai confided that he chose to take retirement so as to give chance to new talents in Bode. “I decided not to pierce my tongue during the festival this year. I want new talents of Bode to take over my role,” he stated, pressing for the continuity of the tradition dating back to Lichhavi-era. Tradition has it that every year on Baisakh 2, one selected candidate pierces tongue with a 10-inch-spike dipped in a mustard oil in the premises of Pancho Ganesh Temple in front of members of public. By doing so, it is believed that demons and evil spirits are defeated who haunt local communities.
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