By Jaykrishna Yadav

Sunsari, Mar. 13: A Tharu museum has been established in Sunsari with the aim of protecting the community’s art, culture and customs.

The museum, named Indigenous Nationalities Museum, has been set up at Shivanagar, Ramdhuni Municipality–2, to reflect the overall identity of the indigenous Tharu community of the district.

Chairman of the museum’s management committee Fagulal Chaudhary informed that the museum was established at the initiative of Ramdhuni Municipality. He shared that visitors would be able to see items related to various rituals of Tharu community from birth to death at the museum.

“The museum has been brought into operation in order to preserve several disappearing cultural practices and make it easier for future generations to understand their history,” Chaudhary said, adding that the museum was planning to display artefacts related to other indigenous communities as well.

According to Chaudhary, the museum depicts the history of the Tharu community and makes it clear that the Tharus have inhabited the area since ancient times.

Journalist Dhirendra Chaudhary told The Rising Nepal that Tharus have been reliant on agriculture since time immemorial -- something that is reflected in the museum.

“Traditional agricultural implements like Meh, Mer, straw Chhaat, Ghailchi, traditional mills and mortars, as well as bamboo and wooden houses and shelters are displayed in the museum,” he said. He further added that the museum also housed bullock carts used for transporting goods in ancient times, storage cases, ploughs and spades.

The museum also has artwork depicting the relationship Tharus had with members of other communities and ethnicities.

Mayor of Ramdhuni Municipality Jay Prakash Chaudhary said that the museum also had different types handicrafts made by Tharu women including Kohbar, Dhama, Dhekiya, Mana, Daura and Patiya along with fishing equipment. Deputy Mayor Sabina Chaudhary said that ethnic clothes and jewellery were also present in the museum.

The museum is also committed to preserving intangible culture like songs, dances and cuisines, the management committee stated.
Sunsari has the largest Tharu population in Province 1.