Description of tharus in Nepal

Nepal is a country of different languages, communities, and cultural background. Tharus are one of the indigenous people and ethnic groups of Nepal. They are the inhabitants of Terai region from Jhapa in the east to Kanchanpur in the west. According to the cencus 2002, they constitute 6.75 per cent of the total population of the country. The largest concentration of Tharu population is found in the mid-western Terai. Tharus migrated towards eastward Kapilvastu and Rupandehi, and mostly in Banke, Bardiya, Kailali, and Kanchanpur districts where the concentration is the highest. They call them 'Chaudhari'. Chaudhari as title was given to the land revenue collector in the Terai. Tharus made the Terai into fertile and cultivable land. Majority of them are still peasants. They are the followers of animistic beliefs and practices handed down for ages.

Family Life

Family is the primary institution of Tharu society. It is the basic unit of production, social, cultural, and religious life. Tharus live in the joint family and they have a simple life. The household consists of a large extended family. Tharu family is organized on the patriarchal system. Family relations are based on age, seniority, and gender. Father as the head of the family plays the major role in the decision- making. Tharu women also hold a good and strong position in the family. After the death of the father, the eldest son becomes the head of the family. Tharu village is centred around a headman (Mahato) and village assembly. Guruwa is also an important person of the Tharu society. He is taken as the healer and the protector against the evils. Tharus believe that the Guruwa can rescue from the witches, diseases, and natural disasters. There are two types of Guruwa; Deshbandhya and Ghar Guruwa. Deshbandhya Gururwa has a privilege recognized by the entire village and Ghar Guruwa is the family Guruwa who is assigned to the few individual families of the village. Now a significant change is seen in the family structure and system. The joint and extended family is being replaced by segmented nuclear family. The process of modernization has tended to strengthen the nuclear family as against the extended.

Language is an important property of ethnic identity. Tharus have their own mother tongue. They speak Indo-Aryan language with regional variations. Tharu language is influenced by Maithili in the east, Bhojpuri in the central region, and Awadhi in the west of the Terai. They use the Devnagari script in writing.

Dress and ornaments

Tharus put their on typical dresses and ornaments. Dresses vary from region to region. Western Tharu women wear long and loose skirt called Lehanga and short-sleeved blouse(Kurtha). In Dang valley, married women wear white skirt and long-sleeved blouse. Men wear Dhoti, shirt, and Nepali cap. Women tattoo their hands and legs after marriage. Banka, Tarki, Bijait, Sutiya, Churi, Jhumki, Jhilmiliya, and Tadiya are popular ornaments. They wear silver armlets, bangles, necklace, and ring made up of silver coins as their ornaments. The tradition is changing and less practiced in the Tharu society.

Cultural practices

Tharus from east to west are composed of various endogamous groups with different languages and cultural practices. They have their own cultural practices from birth to death. The birth of a child is usually assisted by the traditional mid-wife (Sorinnya). Ghatwa Karaina ceremony is normally held after five or six days in order to purify the mother and child. There is an interesting tradition of naming the baby in Tharu society. It depends upon the particular day, time, and other events. For instance, if the baby is born during the absence of the father, the baby is named as 'Pradeshi'.

Tharus have the system of arranged marriage. Marriage is not allowed between the same clan, but within the community is preferred. Parents of the would-be bride and groom consult each other and make the decision for marriage. After mutual compromise, two families fix to get the young couple married. Phalgun month is preferred to marriage. On the day of wedding, the groom with marriage procession goes to bride's house and brings the bride and at the same time completes the ritual worship under the direction of the family Guruwa. Maagar song is sung in the marriage. There is also practice of exchange marriage, wherein the bride is brought from the same house where the daughter is sent if the condition is made. This system of 'marriage by exchange' is known as Satta Patta. Now it is less practised. Widow remarriage and divorce are socially acceptable. Liqour and pork are served as special feast during marriage. Relatives and neighbours are invited in the marriage day. Arranged marriage like in the Hindu society is becoming more common these days. Love, elopement, and inter-caste marriages are preferred by the new generation.

Tharus usually bury the dead body. A cot is used for carrying the dead body from the house to burial ground outside the village. A deep pit is dug and the dead body is buried inside it. The position differs according to sex, if it is male, the position is made face down and face up of female. The cot is kept in the reverse position where the dead body is buried. The sons perform the death ritual up to a period of eleven days. During these days they do not touch any one nor do they eat meat and alcoholic beverages. Most of the Tharus do not burn the corpse. Some affluent Tharus burn the dead body. On the final day, all the rituals for the dead are completed and the feast is given to relatives and neighbours. Guruwa completes the last funeral rite.

Marwathan

Where Tharus Worship Twice In a Year

Every Tharu village has a Marwathan or Bhuinyar (village shrine) in the centre of the village. Marwathan contains the hands like wooden carved posts erected on the ground and a thatched-roof house is built there. The villagers worship in the shrine twice in a year. The worship is conducted by the Mahato. At the time of worship, all the villagers assemble and Deshbandhya Guruwa performs the ritual with cock, goat or pig. The worship is performed in order to preserve the community from fire, flood, pest, epidemics, and other disasters. There is belief that the worship helps in the growth of crops and ample harvest.

Traditional knowledge

Tharus are rich in traditional skills and knowledge. Their indigenous skills, technologies, and expertise are age old which they are still using to address their major problems. They are mostly engaged in agrarian activities and depend upon manual labour. They have developed important tools like plough, sickle, axe, fishing instruments, and other objects at home. They also know herbal medicines for treatment. Now the local knowledge of herbal medicine among Tharus is in jeopardy of being lost owning to modern technology.

At present, Tharus are in search of their identity. They are greatly concerned at the loss of their traditions and culture. Their traditional dances, festivals, and music are performed every year. In addition, Tharu Welfare Society (TWS) is empowering Tharu community for social, cultural, and economic development. BASE (Backwards Society Education), a local level NGO is also promoting awareness through its non-formal education. Despite their complex system of beliefs and practices based on animistic traditions, they are bringing modifications in their traditional way of life. Their rites, customs, dresses, and marriage are influenced by the Hindu culture. These cultural transformations are taking place in the Tharu society. Modernization and Sanskritization are forcing them to be assimilated into the mainstream of Nepali culture. Globalization is another factor of bringing homogenization in the world. To become modern is to undergo changes in cultural and social practices and modernization is the adoption of modern technologies and reorganization of society. There is a trend of reform among educated Tharus.

About One Horned Rhino

One horned Rhino is the one of the most important and beautiful wild animal of the jungle. A Single young one horned Rhino is about 1.5 to 1.8m. tall . It could be found in the plain grassy areas. The one horned Rhino is solitary in nature and spends hours wallowing in mud and water, or feeding on grasses. One of their special features is the long noisy fights that occur sometime injured. The fight occur between male and female sometimes male and male. Chitwan National park is famous for the one horned Rhino. Tourists comes to to see the one horned Rhino from different countries. One horned Rhino can be found in the Chitwan National Park, Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Bardiya National park etc.

Now the population of the one horned Rhino are decreasing due to the destruction of their natural habitat as well as unchecked and merciless poaching, for the mythical aphrodisiacal properties of its horn, as well as mythical medicinal properties of other parts of its body.

All the NGO and INGO and Goverment of Nepal such as: world wildlife fund, Department of National parks and wildlife conservation etc. are now making a determined effort at Rhino Conservation. Really it is a attraction of jungle. We should put our hands together and conserve the Ohe horned Rhino.

Important events in Chitwan National Park:

1911:

King George V of England visited Chitwan for hunting. The hunting party involved more than 600 elephants and bagged 39 tiger, 38 rhino, 27 leopards, and 15 bears.

1950:

Human Population in Chitwan: 36,000.

1950:

Rhino population: 800

1954:

The United States Aid for International Development (USAID) began malaria eradication project in the Terai.

1957:

Rhino population: 400

1959:

Mrigakunja comprising the areas of Tikauli forest from Rapti River to the foot hills of the Mahabharat was declared by the late king Mahendra. But in the absence of its legal status and follow up activities this National Park could not be established in the field.

1959:

Wildlife Management Division (Gainda Gasti or Rhino Patrol) under the Department of forest was established at Tukauli with the responsibility of protecting rhino.

1959:

Rhino Population: 300

1960:

Chitwan declared as malaria free area. Human population in Chitwan: 100,000

1961:

A rhino sanctuary covering 800 sq. km set aside.

1966:

Rhino population: 100

1972:

Rhino population: 120-147

1973:

Chitwan National Park gazette.

1973:

Nepal Tiger Ecology Project started at Sauraha in Collaboration with the HMG/Nepal, Smithsonian Institution, and WWF.

1974:

Chitwan National Park Regulation 1974 promulgated.

1975:

Rhino Population: 270-310

1977:

Gharial Conservation Project (Captive Breeding Center) started at Kasara with the support from the Frankfurt Zoological Society.

1980:

Long Term Tiger Monitoring Project initiated

1984:

UNESCO declared Chitwan National Park a World Heritage Site.

1987:

Elephant Breeding Center was established.

1984:

Gharial Crocodile population estimated at 58 in wild and 70 in captive.

1997:

Gaur population estimated at 198.

About Sauraha

Sauraha is the one of the most famous Place in Nepal. It is located 160 kms by road from Kathmandu, 155 kms by road from Pokhara and 160 kms by road from the Indian border at Sunauli. Sauraha is separated from the Chitwan National Park by the Rapti River, which is safe to swim in. During the dry season one can wander the sand dunes of the shrunken river. It is possible to walk for miles along the mud roads west, north and east of the village to other, rural Tharu villages. In sauraha’s Rapti river we can swim in the river and watch the elephants being bathed. We can go for a jungle safari on foot,by elephant or by jeep. We can also go for a canoe trip on the river. Twenty years ago when Sauraha was a one horse village, the only places to stay were the lodges inside the national park, and these are not exactly cheap accommodation. Now there are upwards of fifty hotels/lodges in and around the village and the competition for guests is fierce. Except in the peak season, you will find a room for a very good price. The most convenient places are on the main track that leads into the village or, once you get to the river, turn right and choose a lodge along the river bank (especially if you want to watch the sun set from your lodge/hotel). In Sauraha, Tharu village is famous for to visit for the tourist because there is a museum and culture of tharu, which is proud of tharu. Sauraha is rich in natural resources. We can find different kinds of medicinal herbs on Chitwan National Park. It is covered with 70% sal’s forests which is separated in sauraha. We can saw a different kinds of wild animals by elephant ride in jungle. Boating is also famous for in Sauraha's Rapti river. Really Sauraha is very intresting and enjoyable place for all of you

About flora and fauna

The Chitwan valley consists of tropical and subtropical forests. Sal forests cover 70 percent of the park. Sal leaves are used locally for plates in festivals and religious offerings. Grasslands cover 20 percent of the park. There are more than 50 different types of grasses, including the elephant grass (Saccharum spontaneum), renowned for its immense height. It can grow up to 8 m in height. The park is home to more than 50 mammal species, over 525 birds, and 55 amphibians and reptiles. The endangered fauna found in the park are: One-horned rhinoceros, Gaur, Royal Bengal tiger, Wild elephant, four horned antelope, Pangolin, Golden monitor lizard, Python, etc. Bengal florican. Lesser florican, Giant hornbill, Black stork, While stork, etc.

Birds life in Chitwan National Park

The Chitwan National Park is a Paradise for birds and bird-watchers a like, is one of the most rewarding places in the world for spotting and study. The avifauna of the Park is a very diverse more than half of the bird listed for Nepal is found here. Due to the wide range of habits dense forests, grasslands, Rivers, streams, lakes and swamps, provides a mass of ecological niche for birds to use. More than 500 species of birds have been recorded within the park, including the migratory and residents. This is the larg est recorded number of bird species for any other part of the country. 16 globally threatened birds species are found i n the park among 29 species recorded for Nepal, classified by birdlife international such as Bengal Florican, Lesser Flori can, Lesser Adjutant, Sarus Crane, Jorden Babbler, Bristled Grass bird, Grey-Crowned Prinia, Slender billed Babbler, White rumped Vulture, Greater spotted Eagle, Lesser Kestrel just to name a few. The reason for Nepal's bird species richness due to the huge variation in altitude and climates and also Nepal lies in the region where two biogeographically realms of Asia overlap the Pale arctic to the North and the Oriental to the South. Overlap of these two world's biotic regions has gifted Nepal with over 862 bird species which is almost ten percent of the world's known birds. Other rare birds found in the Park are Black capped Kingfisher, Blue eared Kingfisher, Sultan Tit, Ruddy Kingfisher, Eurasian eagle Owl, Spot-bellied eagle Owl, Rufous rumped Grassbird, Barn Owl, Black Baza, Red necked Falcon, Great Hornbill, Black winged Stilt, Eurasian Woodcock and Water Cock. There are also a diverse species of Woodpeckers, Laughing Thrushes, Flycatchers, Warblers, Bitterns, Drongos, Nuthatches, Green Pigeons, Parakeets, Bulbuls, Bee-eaters, Prinias and Owls and many species of waders and waterfowls. The best bird watching periods are September-November and February April, when migrants turn up and head off or pass by various species of wintering birds. And the most of the wintering water fowls and waders, arriving in Chitwan are Trans Himalayan migrants coming from as far as north Siberia such as Ruddy shel-ducks and so on. There are numerous summer migrants such as Paradise flycatcher, Black-naped monarch. Indian, and Hooded pitta. There are a variety of altitudinal migrant species, especially wintering warbles and fly catchers such as Slaty blue, little pied, orange-gorgetted flycatchers, Greenish warbler, Grey sided Bush warbler and so on.

Historical Background of Chitwan National Park

Historical Background:
Before 1950s the Terai forests were given some protection by the Rana rulers of Nepal order to purpose their sports of big game hunting. In addition to the decree from the Rana rulers. the deadly malarial infestations provided a natural protection to the forest from human interventions. In early nineteenth century, the Government of Nepal had a policy to prohibit cultivation in the Terai in order to maintain a barrier of disease ridden natural forest as a defense against invasi from the British Empire in the south.During the regime of Rana rulers in Nepal (1946-1950), Chitwan Valley was maintained as a hunting reserve exclusively for the Rana rulers and their guests. Royalty from Europe and the princely States of India were invited to take part in grand hunting. Records show as many as 120 tigers, 38 rhinos, 27 leopards, and 15 bears killed in the valley by hunting party. However, such irregular big hunting hardly affected the total population of wildlife in Chitwan. Importantly, the hunting interest of the Rana rulers maintained a large span of high quality habitat intact for wild animals to flourish.