THARUS : Their culture, religion and their living standards
Nepal is found to be the homeland of various indigenous people. “Tharus” are one of the indigenous people who are native to our country.
The major districts that comprise the settlement of Tharus are Kailali, Dang. They are as well found to be settled in additional places in Terai and often in many places from Mechi to Mahakali.
Tharus are the largest group of people in the Terai area. Historically, they were the only ones that were able to reside in the malarial jungles on the country’s southern border. But as mosquito control became available, many others have migrated into this caste’s areas.
Being hunters and fishermen, this migration has affected the Tharus lifestyle of roaming with resource availability. Many of them are now farmers. They are the most exploited peasants, especially in the Dang-Deukhuri, Bardiya and Kailali areas.
Tharus have their own language but their customs differ according to the settlement areas. In some areas, the bejeweled Tharu women marry early. Their lovers must often work for their parents-in-law few days before they “earn” the right to marry.
Living as they do in the realm of wildlife and insects. Tharus revere animistic spirits as well as some Hindu deities. A village god is worshipped by each community at a small raised shrine.
There are various castes and sub-castes within the Tharu Communities. Tharus, who are considered to be one of the prominent castes of Nepal, found to have mere 32 sub-castes. It is found that Tharus residing in Western Nepal are less educated and economically poor and deprived in comparison to Tharus residing in Eastern Nepal.
According to the report prepared by the Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University, Kritipur, in western region, the prominent person of the Tharu family is called Dhudharia. In Tharu family, the elder person controls the family and the family moves according to his/her wish. The style of fooding, living, housing, customs, traditions and cultures of these families have their own respective features.
As soon as the child takes birth in Tharu community, the same day in the presence of the villagers, they perform Naming Ceremony (Nwaran) and perform the party.
There exist two types of marriage system within Tharu Communities. The first one is Magi Bibaha and the second one being Bhagi Bibaha. In Eastern Part the person who asks for hand of the girl named Lami is called “Lorang” whereas in Kailali he is called “Maghpatiya”.
The household survey in the Tharu communities indicates that in Eastern part of Nepal, Tharus burn the dead bodies while in Kailali side and in Chitwan, they simply bury the dead bodies in the sleeping position. While performing Kajkriya (ritual activities post performed by the relatives and family members of the dead person), in Eastern Nepal, they involves Brahmins. While in western Nepal they involve Guruwa or Jharra.
Furthermore, Tharus also believes in god and goddess. Mostly they worship Satyanarayan, Ram and Krishna.
Tharu communities seemed to have widely spread with various castes. Some family names of Tharus are: Rana, Kathariya, and Chaudhari.
From the hand notes obtained from the sociology book- In Nepal the person having Tharu Language as their mother tongue (Matribhasa) is about 3,59,594 from the year 2009 B.S. to 2011 B.S., which reached 40,69,907 by 2018 B.S. and 4,97,881 in 2028 B.S. and the number reached to 11,94,224 in the year 2048 B.S.
Structure of the houseTharu house is a finepiece of traditional style of art safeguarded by the Tharus even to this day. The construction responsibility is of the male, however its daily maintenance and cleanliness is that of the women.
The houses are constructed facing North and South in a rectangular manner and they are usually single storied. Their exist a belief that if two storied houses are constructed it becomes a dwelling place of spirits and ghosts. Recently changes are occuring near the roadsides as double storied houses can be seen of unbaked bricks with roof of Khar, reed, tins etc.
However majority of the houses are single storied thatched and plastered, very neat and clean. As a researcher I felt that these so called primitive tribes or people have used their own indigenous architectural methods in the construction. They have in a simple artistic manner utilized small spaces in such a manner that the partition walls are shaped in the form of grainery.
Rooms within the housesGahari is the place to keep sheep goat and cows.
It is usually bared from the Bahari that is the sitting room by wooden poles. In some of the houses we come across crudely carved wooden poles with axe symbol for the spirit or the deity of the animals. It is usually the task of the women to worship it early in the morning.
Bahari is the sitting room or like the modern drawing room. This is the main room which comprises of two doors, usually left open to let light into the room. Tharu houses do not have windows but only small holes. Tharus have used their own indegenious method of constructions. The partition walls are shaped as grainery known as Dahari or Kuthli to store food grains. It is made up of mud, bhus and cowdung. Bahari is an important place for the Tharus. In the centre the fire is burnt and it is here discussions are held, recreation takes place in the form of singing and dancing, drinking and enjoying after the day’s hard work and it is here some of the most artistic creation have been born.
Kunte is the sleeping room and the number of kunte vary in accordance to the number of family members. It is an empty room which becomes alive at night, when haystacks are laid in an artistic manner and on it are laid matresses if they possess one, if not, they simply place a thin sheet of clothes and sleep on it.
The artistic materialistic form of culture seen in this room are the large Dhakulies that are hung from the ceilings. Large dhakulies are artistically shaped and produced by the womenfolk.
The large dhakulies are as large as 3 ½ feet in diameter, some with cover, some open, hung from the ceiling. These were used as the store place where they kept their blankets and other clothes. In fact it replaces the modern day boxes. In course of research I came across a large artistically shaped dhakuli which could be locked. Simply a wonderful piece of artistic production.
Who are the producers of such artistic pieces?It is usually seen that the women folk during their free hours are involved in forming such lovely pieces.
Bhitra (kitchen) is another important place which serves both as the dining and the cooking room. It is here we come across certain materialistic artistic creations. Creations made from the available raw materials.
Can you guess as to who are the producers? Large materials which required manual labour are done by men, while delicate and small craftmanship are the productions of the womenfolks.
Artistic materials seen within Bhitra or the kitchen
Davala in the flat wooden spoon existing both at Dang and Deokhuri
Chota Chatowa is made of wood
Large Chattwa is a deep wooden spoon used in cooking and stiring broth. This is made both by men and women folks.
Tumba is commonly used both at Dang and Deokhuri. It is made by both men and women.
The raw materials used for this purpose is a dried Lauki which had been scooped empty and a thread was tied to hang it. To make it look more attractive the women folks made floral designs on the outer surface. It is used to store water and alcohol.
Helka is a small net. The women folks are expert in making such nets. Raw materials used are reeds, back of trees, which are submerged in water and then binded into thread and nets. These nets are used to catch fishes and rabbits.
Pokhya are artistic nets made by women to store potatoes.
Jyokhya net is similar to Pokhya and is used to store onions and ginger.
Dhalia plays important role in the life of the Tharus and when one looks at it one can simply wonder as to how skillfully they have used the cut bamboo pieces and artistically binded them and formed them into Dahlia.
Both men and womenfolk make this kind of Dhalias. However during free hours it is mostly the women who create such artistic craftmanships. This is used to keep fishes.
Bera is another common sight seen within the Bhitra.
This is a raised mat made of haystack binded together which is made by the womenfolks and is used for sitting.
Another important place in the life of the Tharus is the Devarar which is their worship room. It is here the Tharus keep their deities. Here too we come across artistic creations made by human hands which are the symbols on which reside the spirits of various deities. Though these symbols are not made by women yet it is their task to worship them and maintain them.
Do these designs symbolize anything?For them it is nothing but merely their inner artistic tendencies born out of their inner feelings. These so called primitive people are dwellers away from modernization yet they have their own artistic capabilities. Such capabilities are the inner products or are born from within, they do not go to the designing schools nor do they possess degrees yet the designs born from their inner feelings are no less than any modern artist or designers of today. In fact it is the modern designers who have indulged themselves in copying their designs.
The ornaments vary from races to races and tribe to tribe. The Tharus possess ornaments representing their own culture.
