Tharu culture

Culture of Nepal

1. T haru culture

2. Introduction to T haru culture Tharu people are ethnic group indigenous to the southern foothills of the Himalayas; most of the T haru people are found in terai region. As of 2011, the T haru population of Nepal was censused 17,37,470 people or 6.6% of the total population. Tharu families worked under the system of bonded labor known as K amaiya but the government of Nepal outlawed this practice in July 2000. There are several sub groups of T haru which are scattered over most of the terai like Rana T haru in Kailali and K anchanpur , Sonha T haru in Surkhet district, Purbaha T haru in R upendehi and K apilbastu and D anwar in eastern terai.

3. Custom In Chitwan, they have lived in the forest for hundred of years practicing a short fallow shifting cultivation. The most striking aspects of their environment are the decorated rice containers, colourfully painted verandahs and outer wall of their home. In the western terai most R ana T haru prefer living in badaghar called longhouses with big families of many generation sometimes 40-50 people.

4. Tharu dress and ornaments The major customs of T haru man consists of mardani(dhoti) and phad( kachhad ). The customs and ornaments worn by T haru women are choli, nahagi, uprona, natheya, kanful, hansuli, kanthi, matha, dadia, tikuli and upairi.

5. Tharu food( dhikri and ghonghi ) Along with these food items T haru people prefer spicy and distinct foods.

6. Marriage Traditionally, mairriages were often arranged during the pregnancy of two women. If they gave birth to opposite sex babies the two babies were supposed to be married. As this system has been disappearing, they also practice love marriage intercast marriage, marriage after courtship.

7. Religion According to the 2001 census of Nepal,88.63% of the T haru people were Hindus whereas 18.95% were Buddhists. The T haru were famous for their ability to survive in the most malarial parts of the terai that were deadly to outsiders. People belonging to the T haru community celebrate maghi festival which marks the communities new year with much fan fare which is the biggest festival of T haru . So celebrated for a week. The other festivals celebrated by T haru community are jitiya, sama chakhewa, holi and Krishna janmasthami . In western Nepal, in adjacent parts of I ndia T haru speak variants of urdu, Awadhi and bhojpuri. And in eastern Nepal they speak a variant of maithali.

8. Tharu cultural dance Tharu people perform different dances in different festivals like danda nach, ago nach, mayur nach , jhumara nach etc. Jumara nach is specially performed on the 13 th day after the death of any person respecting death person significant in th e community . Dandya nach Mayur nach

9. Aago nach

10. Thank you for your patience.