One of the most culturally significant festivals of Darchula, known as ‘Bire Jaat’, has officially begun in the remote villages of Ksheti and Ghajir in Api Himal Rural Municipality–3. The festival starts annually on the tenth day of the bright fortnight of the Nepali month of Shrawan and lasts for 17 days.
The Bire Jaat, also called the Surma Devi Jatra, is not only religious and touristic but also holds deep cultural importance for the local communities. Celebrated every two years (during even-numbered years), it draws participation from devotees across Darchula and neighboring Bajhang district.
According to Chairperson Bhagat Singh Bohara of Api Himal Rural Municipality, the festival is marked with special rituals and pujas in the villages of Ksheti and Ghajir. Devotees who perform the sacred pilgrimage to Surma Sarovar (lake) in Bajhang are called “Bire”—considered special disciples of the goddess Surma Bhawani.
Locals like Ram Singh Bohara explain that Bires follow strict discipline: eating only once a day, bathing twice daily in natural spring water, walking barefoot, and performing daily rituals while wearing rudraksha beads and blowing conch shells in the morning and evening.
There are two categories of Bire pilgrims:
- Balobire – first-time participants who must follow stricter discipline starting from Aunsi (new moon)
- Budhobire – those who have already made the pilgrimage in past festivals.
The Bires travel 24.5 km barefoot from Ksheti in Darchula to Surma Sarovar, crossing remote mountain trails and high-altitude passes such as Kapuchuli Base Camp (5,000 meters) and Dubai Pass (also 5,000 meters). They rest in natural caves known as Bire Odar before reaching the lake the next day. After worshipping at the lake, they return wearing garlands of Brahma flowers.
Devotees from Bajhang’s Surma Rural Municipality also make the pilgrimage, often in the guise of hunters. It is a unique example of shared spiritual heritage between neighboring districts. Importantly, Darchula pilgrims perform the worship first, followed by those from Bajhang, as per tradition.
The Bires collect sacred mud from the Surma lake, which is believed to be holy, and bring it back as prasad. Once they return to the village, grand religious celebrations are held, including Deuda songs, dances, and rituals known as “Ratedi”—a joyful conclusion to the spiritual journey.
According to local elder Bahadur Thekare from Khandeshwori (Ward 4), this tradition has continued uninterrupted since around the 11th century. It remains one of Nepal’s most unique and indigenous cultural festivals, blending faith, tradition, endurance, and community unity.
