Baglung, June 1 -- In most parts of Nepal, the Mukhiya system faded with the end of the Rana regime about 75 years ago and the rise of modern local governance. But in Taman village in ward 3 of Tamankhola Rural Municipality, Baglung, the tradition still survives-not as an administrative authority but as a respected institution that helps preserve community rules, culture and social order.

The role of the Mukhiya, or village chief, today differs significantly from the past. The position no longer carries state authority to collect taxes or exercise formal administrative powers. Instead, the Mukhiya acts as a custodian of local customs, coordinating festivals, managing seasonal livestock migration and ensuring villagers follow long-establi...