The Tharu is the largest and oldest ethnic group of the Terai region, living in villages located near dense malaria-infested jungles. They mostly reside in regions that have remained isolated over the millennia thereby allowing them to develop a unique culture.
Although physically, the Tharu may resemble other tribes, they speak their own language, the origin of which can be traces to Sanskrit. Recent medical evidence supports the common belief that the Tharus, having lived in the swampy Terai region for centuries, have developed an innate resistance to malaria that is most likely based on an unidentified genetic factor. According to Nepali author Subodh Kumar Singh, a series of invasions by the Rajput kings, eroded the influence of the indigenious Tharus. In 1854 Jung Bahadur, the first Rana Prime Minister of Nepal, developed the Mulki Ain, a codification of Nepal's indigenous legal system which divided society into a system of castes. The Tharus were placed at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Their land was taken away, disrupting their community and displacing the people.
In the 1950s, the World Health Organization helped the Nepalese government eradicate malaria in the Terai region. This resulted in the immigration of people from other areas to claim the fertile land, making the Tharus slaves of the new landowners and developing the Kamaiya system of bonding generations of Tharu families as labourers.
Social and Cultural Systems & Life Style
The economy of Tharu community is based on agriculture and forest. Historically, they were the only ones that were able to reside in the malarial jungles on the Indo-Nepal border. But as mosquito control became available, many others migrated into this tribe’s areas. There are many clans in the Tharu tribe, called Kuri in their local language. Some of them of main clans are as the Badwayak, Battha, Rawat, Birtiya, Mahto, Dahait, Rajia, Bunka, Sansa, Jugia, Buxa, Dhangra, and Rana. All of these Tharu clans are divided on the basis of the status they enjoy.
The fact is that the Tharu themselves did not keep written records and what is known of their early history is derived from passing references in religious texts and etymological evidence. It seems probable that the origin of the Tharus cannot be traced to a particular group of people. As such there may be truth in all the theories.
The Tharus love their folk arts. Tharu songs, Tharu dances, Tharu tattoos, Tharu wall paintings, Tharu handicrafts and Tharu magic are all extremely interesting. A remarkable fact is that the handicrafts made by the tribe are restricted for their own personal use and are not made for commercial purposes.
The main food of the Tharus is fish and rice but they also consume rotis, vegetables, mutton, chicken, dairy products etc. Nowadays owing to the ban on hunting in the forest, the Tharus can no longer consume meat. Furthermore due to poverty purchasing expensive mutton and chicken is also not an option.
The Tharus are also known for their hospitality. They are very good hosts like to serve the best dishes to their guests. The Tharus also have a very friendly nature. Male friends are referred to as “Meet” or “Dilbar” and female friends as “Sangan”.
Some Tharus live in large houses, which may hold up to 150 people. The houses are built of mud with lattice walls. The Tharus grow barley, wheat, maize, and rice, as well as raise animals such as chickens, ducks, pigs, and goats. Because the Tharu lived in isolation in malarial swamps until the recent use of DDT, they developed a style of decorating the walls, rice containers and other objects in their environment.
The Tharu women are known for transforming outer walls and verandahs of their homes into colorful paintings dedicated to Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of prosperity and fertility.
Tharu Village:
The Tharus generally live in small populated villages and are scattered, often residing at a minor distance from each other. The Tharus are always in search of a good site for founding their villages. A good site in their judgment must be land located on a high level with proximity to a river or some water body yet safe from water-logging and inundation during the rainy season. The House of Padhan (Chief of Village) is a very important place in the village. Even a casual visitor to a Tharu Village is impressed by the neat arrangement of the houses, their cleanness in contrast with the congestion of other villages in India. A Tharu village, therefore, represents a closely knit society having developed a bond of fellowship.
Tharu Houses:
The Tharus are famous for their clean houses. Generally Tharus build their house by using mud, wood and grass. The houses have a unique quality of being cool in the summer and hot in the winter. Each house with its garden is a detached residence with a narrow or a broad alley separating it from the adjacent houses. The house must face the east to bring them prosperity, which the other directions of the house do not promise. The Size of the house depends directly on the size of family.
The “Than” (place of worship) is a must in every house. On one side of the main house the well-to-do Tharus build a Bangla (the Rest House). Both the exterior and interior of the Tharu houses present a neat and clean appearance. They are swept twice or thrice a day and the ashes and house-refuse are thrown near the cattle-shed or in fields.
Religion:-
Tharus follow Hindu religion because they claim that they are the descendants of the Rajputs of Rajasthan by blood. This is an extremely interesting fact as the Tharus do not possess any similarity with the Rajputs of Rajasthan as far as their race and culture is concerned.
Dr. D.N. Majumadar contested the supposed Rajput origin of the Tharus on the basis of blood group tests and came to the conclusion that the Tharus owe their origin to the Mongoloid race. The Tharu are adherents of Hinduism, but also hold Islamic and Buddhist beliefs. A number of Tharus have converted to Buddhism in the recent years. Such syncretic practices have led Tharus to practice folk Hinduism. With the advent of religious freedom, others have converted to Christianity and there are a variety of congregations active in the various districts where Tharus normally reside. Traditionally Tharus worship various gods in the form of animals such as dogs, crow, ox and cows. Further each village has its own deity, commonly known as “Bhuinyar”. Tharu in East Nepal call their deity Gor-raja.
Most Tharu households own a statue of a traditional god. Family members often offer animal sacrifices such as pigeons and chickens to appease the gods. Milk and silk cloth are also used for sacrificial purposes. Many Tharus also use the blood of one of the male members in the family for such rituals. Such rituals are conducted through ceremonies, and superficial cuts are made on the forehead, arms, throat, legs, and/or chest.
The gods are believed to have the ability to heal diseases and sickness. According to traditional legend, gods are given a “bhakal”, a promise of something, on condition that the sickness is cured, in any events of misfortunes or plagues. A relative's death is an event of great significance among Tharus and various rituals are conducted in accordance to the religion they follow.
Tharu often approach shamans as doctors, known as Guruba. Such shamans use Buddhist medicines to cure ailments. Shamans will also try to appease gods through incantations, beating drums and offering sacrifices. The Tharu believe sickness comes when the gods are displeased and the demons are at work. Buddhist converts among the Tharu are found in Saptari, Siraha and Udaypur. Currently it is believed that there are more than one dozen Buddhist monks and novices among the Tharus. This can be attributed to the fact that they were inspired by the discovery of Lord Buddha as a member of the Tharu tribe.
