Cultural practices among the Puns are a vibrant tapestry of Shamanic traditions (Dhami-Jhakri) and Buddhist influences. The community’s social structure is built on mutual aid and collective celebration, prominently displayed during festivals like Maghe Sankranti and Lhosar.
King Tulu Paija
Raja Tulru Paija Pun was born in a place called “Dhakki” in the north-west of Pakhapani village under Ward No. 6 of Raghuganga Rural Municipality, Myagdi District of the present day. His father’s name is Budhe Paija Pun. You were the most important among sons. It seems that he sacrificed his life in the war with the Gorkhali army for the welfare of the people and the people in this birthplace area. Since he was killed in that war, he could be given the status of a martyr. But who will call him a martyr! The plight of the Malla rule for 350 years was the same during the period of the Gorkhali kings. A joint team of Gorkha and Palpali forces attacked the capital Beni. In the army of Palpa kingdom, there were twelve magars of Magranti. The Palpali kings gave good position to the Magars both in the field of army and personnel. In the Gorkhali army, there were some Magars from the twelve Magaran states, while the rest used to be All-Kshetris and Thakuris. Since the mountain kingdom could not be conquered alone, the Gorkhali king made a good relationship with Palpaliraja. According to the plan, the Gorkhali army attacked Beni from the east of the mountain capital and the Palfali army from the south, and the Gorkhali army took the mountain in their hands. After the mountain kingdom came under Gorkhali rule, the mountain kings and princes fled to India via Dhorpatan. He reached Balampur in India and took refuge in the Nawab’s palace and died there. The Gorkhali army took over the mountain kingdom. But the governance system could not be fixed and fixed. All four directions started to be chaotic. Anti-social acts like robbery started to increase. It was not known when the Gorkhali army, Bhai Bhardwar and his followers would create an uproar. Disturbance and panic was spreading everywhere. Tule Paija, who was closely observing such activities, felt a sense of control over such things. As a result, he raised his voice and dared to fight against the Gorkhali army. He now duly strengthened the army. There were 150 fighting soldiers in the army with archers and swords. He established his capital at a place called “Deurali” one kilometer above Pakhapani. A tall three-storied palace was built there. From the bardali (pali) on the upper floor of the same palace, he used to keep an eye on the subjects and enemies. Similarly, he built a coat in the neighboring village of Kotgaon, Siran. He used to keep the weapons of his army in that coat. A fort was built at a place called Dhokala Deurali of Anipakhapani. Arrangements were made to check all checks from this fort. Tule Paija Pun started to compose a play with the intention that the people would not believe when they heard that one Pun’s son suddenly became a king among the people who had kept the illusion that there were only Mallas, Thakuri and Shahs for centuries. He spread the illusion among the people that he was a Rautela (prince) of Malebum. He announced that the same prince was now sitting on the throne as a king. The people of that region were also happy to see him as their king. Because people believed in reincarnation and religion, they readily accepted the self-proclaimed king of Tulu Paija Pun. King Tulu Paija Pun, dedicated to the service of the people, started the work of running the state. They stopped the supply of copper for minting from Thadapani and Kuine. The work of sending from Beni to pay the miner’s wages was continuous. The money sent to be paid was confiscated. The people began to confiscate the cost of crops, serma, tiro from the chiefs and tear them away. He made a noise among the people not to pay any kind of taxes to the Gorkha government. Sahu tore the tamsuks of Mahajan. In this way the people were freed from debt. (Naru Thapa, Kirant Magar History, page 49, 50) Raja Tulu Paija Pun used to do all those works through his soldiers and matiyars. He also looted the wealth of Sahamhajans who had a lot of wealth and distributed it to the people. Gowda, Post Office, Taksar and government employees were openly challenged. “If you have courage, come to fight or else surrender” he issued an Urdi. Because of his action, the government postal system and tax was closed. Subedar Narasimha Malla of Beni Taksar sent his brother Padam Malla as an envoy to Pakhapani. There he started reminding Raja Tule Paija Pun. But there was a fight between them. During the fight, Padam Malla was killed by Raja Tule Paija. This incident was one of the main reasons why the Gorkhali government side tried hard to suppress the rebellion against Raja Tule Paija Pun’s kingdom. B.S. This is the incident of Shravan 29, 1897. A “Jharali army” was prepared by combining the headmen of eighteen villages (probably eighteen panthis), Bhadrabhaladmi, brave hunters and former and current soldiers. It was led by Bhagwat Pathak and Ditha Laxman Bhandari, thinkers from Baglung Adda (Choti Gounda). He reached Pakhapani to fight the army of Raja Tule Paija Pun. Raja Tule Paija Pun’s army was also not weak, it was equipped with khunda, khukuri, khurpa and bowman. They also had trained dogs. A fierce war broke out between the Jharali army and the army of 150 people, including women. The Jharali army was scattered. Running away, Paatle came to the farm and started spending the night. Millet stalks and lattes were hanging in the fields of leafy fields. In the dim light of the night, those hanging balls looked like the head of a soldier, so the Jharali troops fled overnight.
