By Abinash Chaudhary
Dhangadhi, Feb. 6: Despite the availability of tin and plastic baskets, the traditional earthenware Dehari is still the preferred container to store grains in in the Tharu community.
“Dehari is as important to us today as it was to our parents and grandparents yesterday,” Sunita Chaudhary, a resident of Kailari Rural Municipality-7, Kailali said. “It is an absolute necessity for storing grains.” Sunita shared that because of its utility, Dehari still remained as popular as ever in the Tharu households.
Dehari is a large basket, or rather a box, made by skilled women of Tharu villages by mixing mud and rice husk. The better the mixture, the stronger the Dehari. The Dehari, thus made, is then used to store grains like paddy, wheat and lentils.
“One can store grains for up to two years in a good Dehari,” informed Sonkeshari Devi Chaudhary, a local. “It will not rot, it will not spoil and it will not attract insects.”
Sonkeshari knows that there are other storage boxes available in the market but said that she, and other villagers, still liked using Dehari.
“The grains do not last for long in the plastic and metal cans,” Sanita Devi Chaudhary, who is a homemaker, explained. “They become moist and start rotting.” That is why almost all houses in the villages prefer Dehari, she said.
In addition to its practicality, Dehari also holds social, cultural and religious significance in the Tharu community. It is a status symbol in the society and is considered to reflect the wealth of a family.
“A family that does not have a Dehari in their house is taken to be poor,” Sonkeshari said. “The family that has made Deharis is taken to be rich.”
Similarly, every house has a main Dehari called the Patahuwa Dehari. This Dehari is believed to be associated with the tutelary deity of the family. Hence, the images and idols of Gods and Goddesses are kept closed to it. According to Sonkeshari, rice flour is stamped on the Patahuwa Dehari while worshipping the gods during Dashain and Deepawali.
“That is why Dehari is important to our community,” she said, adding, “Thankfully, that importance has not declined.”
January is usually the time for renovating and building houses in Tharu villages. While constructing houses, people also remove their old Deharis and bring in new ones. So, people, especially women, are busy making Deharis for their families and relatives.
Ward no. 7 Chairman Kamal Prasad Chaudhary said that the Tharus had been using Deharis for a long time. “Our ancestors were very wise,” he said. “They developed Deharis to protect grains from insects.”
Tharus of Nepal also use other smaller earthenware called Kuthli to store food items. Likewise, they use Laiya to keep fire and build mud Chulho stoves to cook food.