“Bhume” festival is a major festival celebrated by people in Kham Magar area. The festival falls in first week of the month of Asar (mid June) and celebrated for nearly a week. But the preparation of the festival begins even a fortnight ahead by young people practicing the dance at night in village “Chautara” (a place for gathering).

Some people especially Nepali speaking ones call it “Balpuja” too. The word “Bhume” derived from word “Bhumi” means earth. People in Kham Magar area normally worship the nature and their ancestors other than traditional Gods. Before the rainy season of monsoon starts Kham Magars worship the nature for protection from the wrath of nature (i.e. landslide, flooding, gale force etc) and wish for a good harvest.

Lugum has got it’s unique story and pride tradition about Bhume festival. According to myth, in an ancient time in Lugum, when women from the village go to bring water from nearby stream called “Jari Khola” a woman used to vanished everyday. One day the villagers hide some people at various places to find out the cause. When people returned home from work in late evening a group of women went to Jari Khola to bring water. While they arrived at uphill of “Maadai” a giant serpent look a like creature came out of two large rocks and grabbed the women at last and swallowed it. A man hiding nearby the rocks show it and ran to the village and told the villagers about it. Then the village had a meeting on how to tackle the beast. A bold Kami came with an idea, he proposed to make a big pincers and grab the beast by his neck and kill, when he grabs his prey and tries to swallow it. Everybody liked and convinced with his idea. Then the Kami made a huge pincers with help of other Kamis. According to plan the Kami hid himself behind the two rocks in the early afternoon and waited for village women to go to Jari Khola to bring water. As usual just before the twilight a group of women went to Jari Khola for water. While they were returning with their load of water and arrived at Maadai the beast suddenly came out of the rocks and grabbed the women at last with its jaws and started to swallow it. The Kami hiding behind the rocks was watching it all and jumped out of the rocks and grabbed beast at neck with his huge pincers. Suddenly other people hiding in surrounding area also came out to help him. The beast struggled hard to escape but since many people holding the pincers together the beast could not release himself. Then the villagers asked him that, “who the hell was he?” Then the serpent like beast answered “he was the Bhumi Dewata (Earth God).” Since he was Bhumi God the villagers could not dare to kill him but also did not let him go free either. At the last the Bhumi Dewata gave up and begged for let him go. But the villagers told him that they will release him on the only condition if he agrees not to harm or eat any more people from village in the future and protect the village from any bad natural disasters. The Bhumi Dewata agreed to the condition proposed by the villagers but asked them in order to get his blessing and protection they have to worship him at every year on Asar Sankranti (Sankranti is the first day of the month) by bringing sacred water and flowers from Buki (high mountain) and sacrifice a bull sheep. The villagers also agreed to Bhumi Dewata’s request. Since then on every Asar Sankranti Lugumyal people worship the Bhumi Dewata with sacred water and flowers brought from Buki and sacrifice a bull sheep and celebrate for nearly a week by dancing together at Nachi (a place) for both relief and victory over the Bhumi Dewata. Also the villagers honoured the Kami for his wisdom and courage by making him the Pujari (priest) of Bhumi Puja. Probably this is a unique tradition that a lower caste being a Pujari in a Hindu dominated culture. Later on the role of Pujari passed on to his generations and that tradition still remains in Lugum. Who ever selected for the Pujari has to be very clean and pure for several weeks before the Puja. They are even forbidden to eat or drink salt, meat, oil, alcohol and there should not be any death or pregnancy happened in his family in past year as well. According to myth if the Pujari selected disobeys these restrictions he faces the wrath of the Bhumi Dewata. That could be as severe as a death occurring in his family. Also it is said that if the Bhumi Dewata is not happy he appears in Pujari’s home as a snake and this kind of incidents have been occurred several times.

Nogo Po is the sacred place at Buki where a group of young boys and girls go to bring the sacred water and flowers. Since they go to Nogo Po to collect sacred water and flowers they are called “Nogobange”. They leave two days prior to the Puja, spend a night at Buki and return on eve of Puja. They are welcomed by the village officials and people when they arrive at Nachi with snacks and Raksi. There is a tradition that the village people provide a sheep as a gift to Nogobange for a party.

Bhume dance is danced during Bhume festival. It is a very popular dance and little children to old people dance together in rows of line. Trumpet, drums and other instruments are used to play by local Damais. Bhume music is so enchanting and attractive that it keeps buzzing in ears even several days after the Bhume festival has ended.

While Bhume dance is most popular dance to dance, Nanchane was most popular dance to watch. According to old people, the last Nanchane dance was danced in Lugum in around 1950-1960 by Lugumyal dancers. Between 20-50 people used to take part in this dance.  Among them one of them was to be a Guru, couple of assistances, 2-4 jokers and rest of them were dancers. To take part in this dance young people used to do months of training for this dance. Also they have to buy costumes and ornaments for this dance. After the showing the dance in village they used to go on a tour in neighbouring villages where they were warmly greeted and welcomed. Due to modernization, being expensive, requiring a long training, lack of promotion and protection this most famous and popular dance vanished from Lukum and entire Kham region for forever. Lugumyal Society is trying to revive this famous dance and looking for volunteer sponsors.

While Nanchane was danced by males only, Jholyani was performed by only females. It was also performed in group by a large number of females. They also used to go for a tour in neighbouring villages where they were greeted and welcomed. There is no record when the last Jholyani dance was performed in Lugum. This dance also became a victim of modernization too.

Digare dance is performed by Kamis in the village mainly during Dashain. This dance is also danced at weddings too. This is also a group dance performed by 10-20 people at a time. This dance is slowly disappearing from our culture and will disappear soon if not promoted and protected.

Agriculture is main occupation in Lugum but sheep herding is traditional occupation and a main source of income. Little businesses and overseas jobs are other types of occupations.

Maize, potato, barley, wheat, buckwheat and millet are main crops. Sheep farming was the main and traditional source of income since ancient time but this tradition is rapidly replaced by overseas job and mule herding. Lugumyals make blankets from sheep wool and trade it for cash. Also sheep and goats are sold for meat. Cows are mainly kept for agriculture purpose and to plough the land.

Joining the foreign army such as British and Indian Army is a traditional occupation but since nineties more and more people opting for other overseas jobs in Gulf, Malaysia, Europe, America and eastern Asian countries. This trend is rapidly replacing all other traditional occupations.

Making bamboo baskets, mats and hemp bags, collecting herbs, wild mushrooms are other form of casual and part time works. Since late eighties herding and loading mules for transportation has also became a very popular occupation within the region.