Hrishtina Kariyapradhan Tharu

Culture and language of tharu people :

The Tharu people are an ethnic group who had lived in the low land of Nepal. Tharu people are usually found in terai region of Nepal. The origin of Tharu people is surrounded by the old culture, belief and old traditions. Tharu people also call themselves as they are the people of indigenous. The Tharu people are the largest ethnic group that represents 6.6 percent of the total population they lived in the territory of Terai region of Nepal.

Tharu communities are scatter in different part of Nepal. They do have their own type of culture and languages. Many of the tharu people speak Tharu Languages Dangaha, Deukhariya, Kathariya, Desauri, Rana Tharu, Maithili, Bhojpuri and even Hindi. Tharu people plant rice, wheat, mustard, corns and many more things, but also collect forest products such as wild fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants and materials to build their houses; in past they amuse to hunt wild animal like, deer, wild boar and even rabbit, and go fishing in the rivers and lakes. Their houses are usually built by using only available materials such as, clay, mud, dung and many more necessary materials… and it seems small but very beautiful and typical when the house is built.

• Naming of Tharu People

As I was just lying on the bed, my father spells a neighbor’s name called “Gudarchhorwa”, “PahariLal” at any reference. I was thinking what kind of name is this. I was very cunning to know about it. I was thinking how did this kind of name take place toward the people? I had searched in google for this but I could not get any information about it.

So I talked with my father about it, these names are given to the people by what event is happened like for example, if a child born in Dashain then their name will be “Dashani” or related to Dashain Festival and also by the which day the child put their leg in this world. And even with the natural cause If the child born in yard (आँगन) then their name will be Angani (अन्गनी).Tharu people’s names are interconnected with the natural events and Tharu people are associated and depend upon the nature. Tharu people are the worshipper of the nature like water, forest, and land along with stones, trees, plants and many more…

Once there was a bandit called “Valmiki”. He was from India. He always stole the things and he even hunts and kills the people. One day, he spells “Mara“, he spells this word many times and while spelling “Mara” converted into “Rama“. By this word “Rama” he discovered many things and even left out the stealing the things from the people. He converted himself as “Sage” from a robber. And he even wrote the “Ramayana” for the first time in the world.

This is how the people change likewise, the tharu people name like, “Ghoghiya“, it is the name when he was child because of his behaviors and nature is more shouting so that’s his name take place for him. But the time changes and he grown up then his behaviors change; he would get respect and acceptable for the society then his name will be change as “Ghoghi Ram“. This is the very organic types name in tharu people. Now, the world has been a global village. So, the name also plays a vital role to show the identity of a person.

There are some name I have heard such as, Suvarni (if she is born in Morning time “Suvey or Sabere”), Pahari Lal (suppose a man went to hill (Pahad) when his wife is pregnant in case, their child born then his name will be Pahari lal), Mangal Ram (if he is born in Monday “Mangalbar”), Budhram, Bajaru (suppose there is fair and a pregnant woman went there in case she was unable to reach home, her child born then their name will be Bajaru), Kangreshu, Lahani (if a child was boon of  god after visited god pilgrims the her name will be Lahani) , Mangri, Ghoghi Ram and many other kind of names…And As these are the names of people associated to the nature, day, events, festivals, situation, habits and many more.

I was even surprised in the name of the Tharu’s people houses. Therefore, I tried to short research on it.  Tharu people’s houses are associated with where they come from or where they are originally from. Like I had heard a tharu people’s house name “Fakalpuraney” as they come or originally from name Fakkalpur place.

Most of these names are kept in the village area where a tharu community is settled. Not even village some of the urban areas where tharu people live, they kept their name depend upon where they are originally from and they had been also know by their house name. Our house name is “Patlayhaney“. This name took place because my grandfather was from a small village called “Potali” of Dang. There are few Tharu’s house names I have heard such as, Bhalmansaney, Gautaney (This name take place because a man got married to a woman in same village “Gaau” where he lives), Aghaney (This name take place because they are the educated family in the village and they plays vital role for a head steps for leadership for coordination, collaboration and give suggestion to other people), Ratanpuraney (This name take place because they came from a place called “Ratanpur” and if they settle permanently) likewise there are house name I got Dhokraney, Mirdangane,  Sajhrahaney, Bhaurahaney, Kailrahaney, Baispuraney, Parnahaney, Mahidayaney, Likmahaney, Aethahaney, Palhahney .

Every home name has own history. How Bharmansaney as a name of house did took place? Like they are the head of the village for many years and they are leaded as Bhalmansha (Mukhiya) of the village. Therefore; their house naming took place “Bhalmanshaney”. As there is a name of Tharu’s house Mirdanganey they put this name because their head man of their house plays madal very much. By this, we can able to know that these names are very unique and connected with their own nature. Majorly; we can see that, in every Tharu people’s house name in last there is always hanging a letter “ney” (ने). It is also a culture or belief key identity that they should put the “ney“(ने ) in every house’s names as “Mahataney“.

Tharu people are very connected through every family. If they do not know each other even then they talk and closing friendly. They have a unity. Like in every festival they get together in a unit in a big ground and celebrate the event. They dance; sing and they eat what they have. They share their every sorrow and happiness happened to their life. It makes me proud to be a girl from tharu community.

This is my view and thoughts only. Plz suggest and correct me.

writter: Axis Vidhyasham Class -8, Dhangadhi