Thursday, January 18, 2007

THARU

Vadasi village is in western part of Butwal. Originally, Tharu are lived there. But there is mix settlement. In their own caste they have hierarchy as like Brahmin caste system. In tharu, there is different caste such as Damoriya, Kathariya(high caste),Musiyar (untouchable). They have own culture and religious practices which are different than other.

There life de passage of modern tharu and ancient tharu is different. For example, variation in living style, economic condition, employment opportunity, education. According to Ramsaran Chaudhari they used to work in landlord's farm. Those tharu who have own land are also worked as a servant and marginalized their own land. At the time of festival they take loan from the landlord. But they are unable to pay back the loan and they give their own land to return their loan. In this way they became relatively poor. According to him they go for work in the early morning at 4 o'clock till night 8-10 o'clock. Now this routine is not followed. They can go for work at day time and left earlier than before.

Their main festival is holi, khichadi, panchami, aitabar. They also celebrate Dashain and Tihar but they do not take tika and Jamara in dashain, and donot put bhai tika also. They celebrate it by eating meat and drinking alcohol.

When little child born then women get pure after getting bath in 6th day. They put their children name according to the day of child born. For example, if the child is born in sunday (aitabar) then his/her name is aitey. If the child is born in farm then his/her name is kheytada / kheytad. But, now they asked to Priest for their children name. Sometime, they give the good name for their child.

Before 18 years ago, they have not right to see any boy and girl before marriage. They get married in early childhood. Their father selected the bride and groom. Father worked as a broker. But this system is changed now; both groom and bride are given the right for the selection. Then suitable time is look for married. They celebrate marriage ceremony before one week. Relatives are called before one week and after the finishing marriage their relatives.




They have no dowry system. Bride father gave according to his wishes. Next day of marriage ceremony groom go for the contract. How long she can stay in her maternal home. When they fixed time and date then her father took his daughter.

They used to wear bhagai and kattu. People of tharu community do not used to wear chappal previously.

At the time of death the funeral body is burn near by river and jungle. Only one
member of the family is selected for the death ritual.

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