Lakhe Festival —
The Demon Who
Guards the Streets
From Nag Panchami to Krishna Janmashtami, a red-masked figure runs through the market squares of seven eastern hill districts, carrying a Newar tradition that has outlasted earthquakes, migration, and a century of change.
A Town Transformed by One Red Mask
Myanglung, the district headquarters of Tehrathum, has taken on a festive appearance in recent days, with increased crowds filling its streets and squares. The sound of traditional musical instruments and appearances by Lakhe performers have created a distinct cultural atmosphere in the town as the Newa community's traditional Lakhe Festival 2083 gets underway.
Organised by Newa Dey Daboo Myanglung under the slogan "Our Culture, Our Identity," the festival is more than a celebration of entertainment. It is a living expression of culture, tradition, and community identity, passed down through generations — and Myanglung is only one of several eastern hill towns where this same red-masked figure runs through the streets each year.
Lakhe Festival — Quick Reference
- Community
- Newa (Newar) settlements
- Region
- Eastern hill districts, Koshi Province
- Starts
- Nag Panchami
- Ends
- Krishna Janmashtami
- Duration
- ~2 weeks
- Opening ritual
- Bhimsen Temple puja
- Mythology
- Krishna vs. Kansa, Dwapar Yuga
- 2026 host town
- Myanglung, Tehrathum
Why a Demon Dances Through the Streets
A Demon Who Became a Guardian
In Nepalese folklore, the Lakhe is a fearsome forest demon — ferocious face, protruding fangs, a wild mane of red hair — who once terrorised townspeople before being tamed into becoming their protector. Local legend holds that a Lakhe fell in love with a young woman from the town, and rather than punishing him, the community's leaders offered him a bargain: give up his old appetite, protect the town's children, and in return, he could appear once a year during the festival season, dancing through the streets rather than hiding in the forest.
During the Lakhe dances of the eastern hills, symbolic acts also recall the legendary battle between Lord Krishna and his maternal uncle Kansa — mythological tales rooted in the Dwapar Yuga, woven into the same performance that carries the demon-turned-guardian story. A female Lakhe is known as Lasin, and in the Kathmandu Valley tradition this demon character is famously taunted by a small boy called Jhyalincha, who always manages to slip back into the crowd unharmed.
Three Generations, One Street
The history of the Lakhe festival in Myanglung is closely linked to the settlement of the Newa community in the area. According to Rajeshraj Joshi, district president of Newa Dey Daboo Tehrathum, the tradition began with the arrival and settlement of the Newa community itself — the festival is, in a real sense, as old as the town's Newar presence.
Children watch the Lakhe dance with curiosity. Young people record it on their mobile phones. Older generations connect the celebration with memories of the past. In this way, the festival brings three generations together in one place, on the same street, watching the same red-masked figure that their grandparents once watched too.
Shubh Bhagat Pradhanang, president of Jhigu Paropakar Samaj Tehrathum, has stressed the need to preserve the Lakhe tradition and pass it on to younger generations — and to develop a sense that Lakhe is a shared cultural heritage of all communities, not just the Newa community alone.
The festival is no longer confined to Newa households. Residents, business owners, people from different communities, and visitors from outside the district all take part in the celebrations, contributing to social unity in Myanglung as well as local commerce and cultural tourism. Funds collected through the festival are also used for social activities, tying the celebration directly to community welfare rather than spectacle alone.
Myanglung Municipality Mayor Sanjay Tumbahangphe has said the local government continues to support the preservation and promotion of endangered traditional arts and cultures — continued community participation alongside government backing, he noted, is what will ultimately keep Lakhe and other indigenous traditions alive for future generations.
A Tradition Spanning Seven Districts
Myanglung's celebration is one thread in a much larger tapestry. The Lakhe Jatra plays out across a genuine cluster of historic Newar trading towns throughout Nepal's eastern hills.
While the Newar community is historically rooted in the three cities of the Kathmandu Valley — Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur — centuries of trade sent Newar merchant families out along the hill routes of eastern Nepal, where they founded market towns that still carry the Lakhe tradition today.
Dhankuta Bazaar
One of eastern Nepal's oldest Newar hill settlements, and a long-standing centre for the Lakhe Jatra tradition in Dhankuta district.
Khandbari & Chainpur
In Sankhuwasabha, festivities formally open at the Bhimsen Temple in Khandbari, with parallel celebrations in Chainpur, Sibhuwa, and Tumlingtar, coordinated by Newa Dey Daboo Sankhuwasabha.
Taksar Bazaar, Bhojpur
Another historic Newar trading settlement carrying its own distinct Lakhe tradition, with its own costume and mask style noted in wider Nepali cultural documentation.
Why Bhimsen comes first: In Sankhuwasabha and across these Newar trading towns, festivities open with rituals at the local Bhimsen Temple. Bhimsen is revered as the deity of trade and commerce — a fitting choice for communities whose ancestors first settled these hills as merchants.
From Nag Panchami to Krishna Janmashtami
-
Opening
Nag Panchami
The festival formally begins on Nag Panchami, a day dedicated to serpent worship in Hindu tradition, marked by puja and offerings at the local Bhimsen Temple.
-
Duration
Roughly two weeks of street performance
Lakhe dancers appear through market squares and residential streets, accompanied by traditional instruments, drawing crowds of all ages and backgrounds.
-
Closing
Krishna Janmashtami
The festival concludes the day after Krishna's birth anniversary, closing roughly two weeks after it began, often with a final dance performance at the Bhimsen Temple itself.
Nearby Places to Visit in Tehrathum
If Myanglung's Lakhe Festival brings you to Tehrathum, the district holds genuine natural highlights worth extending the trip for.
Hyatrung Falls
A 365-metre waterfall in Tehrathum district, offering rock climbing, rappelling, and swimming alongside dramatic scenery — one of eastern Nepal's most striking natural landmarks.
TMJ & Basantapur
The Tinjure-Milke-Jaljale trekking route passes through Tehrathum, famed for its rhododendron forests and panoramic Himalayan views.
Myanglung Bazaar
Beyond festival season, the town's older Newar quarter and market architecture remain worth a slower, unhurried walk-through for anyone interested in eastern Nepal's trading-town heritage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Lakhe Festival?
The Lakhe Festival, or Lakhe Jatra, is a traditional Newar celebration featuring masked dancers dressed as the Lakhe — a fearsome forest demon turned protective guardian in Nepalese folklore. It is celebrated across historic Newar settlements in Nepal's eastern hill districts, from Nag Panchami to Krishna Janmashtami.
Where is the Lakhe Festival celebrated in eastern Nepal?
The festival is celebrated across seven eastern hill districts — Okhaldhunga, Khotang, Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur, Dhankuta, Tehrathum, and Taplejung — centred on historic Newar trading towns including Myanglung, Dhankuta Bazaar, Chainpur, Khandbari, and Taksar Bazaar.
When does the Lakhe Festival start and end?
The festival traditionally begins on Nag Panchami and concludes the day after Krishna Janmashtami, a period of roughly two weeks.
Why does the Lakhe Festival start with worship of Bhimsen?
Bhimsen is revered as the deity of trade and commerce in Newar tradition. Since these eastern hill towns were originally founded by Newar merchant families, opening the festival with Bhimsen puja honours the community's trading heritage before the Lakhe dances begin.
What is the story behind the Lakhe demon?
According to Newar folklore, the Lakhe was originally a fearsome forest demon. After falling in love with a local woman, he was offered a bargain by town leaders: give up his old ways and protect the town's children, and in return he could appear once a year to dance through the streets as a guardian rather than a threat.
Is the Lakhe Festival only for the Newar community?
While organised by Newa community groups, the festival has grown to include participation from residents, businesspeople, and visitors from many different communities, with local organisers actively encouraging it be recognised as a shared cultural heritage rather than belonging to one group alone.
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