In the far east of NĂŠpal, far from Katmandu, legend and history join together to recount how five centuries ago women of royal blood immigrated from Rajasth (India) with their children and servants. Here it is the women who rise up as guardians of the traditions and combat assimilation into an Indo-Nepalese culture. Contrary to other ethnic groups of Nepal, they themselves make their exceptional costume. At a time when the Indian sari triumphs amongst most of the tribes, here, the clothing tradition continues. The design of their very colourful costume, adorned with embroidery and little mirrors, as well as their silver jewelry is very close to the dress style adopted in Rajasthan. Of course, the fabrics and colours change according to current fashions.
Rana Tharu: life in colour. Photos and text ŠBruno Morandi/Lightmediation Contact - Thierry Tinacci Lightmediation Photo Agency +33 (0)6 61 80 57 21 thierry@lightmediation.com
1258-57: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival.
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-01: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-02: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-03: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-04: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-05: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-06: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-07: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-08: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
1258-07: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group.
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-09: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-10: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-12: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-14: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-15: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-16: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-17: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-18: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
1258-14: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group.
1258-21: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group.
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-21: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-23: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-25: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-26: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-28: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-30: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-31: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-32: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
1258-44: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival.
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-33: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-35: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-36: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-37: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-38: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-40: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-41: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-42: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
1258-56: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival.
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-43: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-44: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-45: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-46: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-47: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-48: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-49: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-50: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival. / Nepal /
1258-12: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group.
1258-30: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group.
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-51: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-52: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-53: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-55: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-56: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-57: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-58: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-59: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival. / Nepal /
1258-46: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival.
1258-64: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival.
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-61: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-62: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival. / Nepal /
Rana Tharus, life in color / 1258-63: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival. / Nepal /
1258-60: Nepal. Region du Terai. Ethnie Rana Tharu. Fete de Holi. // Nepal. Terai area. Rana Tharu ethnic group. Holi festival.
Rana Tharu: life in colour. Along the big river a few wading birds watch intently, like fixed white statues. In water up to their stomachs, a group of women in a tight row moves forward pushing a shrimping net, a wide net of tight meshing. This strategy's prey is the alevin, which afterwards the women will dry in the sun. On one side of the river, the jungle, vast and dense Indian forest, on the other bank, the fishing people have marked their territory: a few villages and farms imprisoned in the meanderings of the river. In the far east of Népal, far from Katmandu, legend and history join together to recount how five centuries ago women of royal blood immigrated from Rajasthan (India) with their children and servants. The men remained behind to defend the Rajput kingdoms against the Muslim invaders. These women settled in the forest at the foot of the Himalayas and took their servants as partners, while establishing a matriarchal social system, and taking in hand family and village affairs. These are the Rana Tharu. They belong to the Tharu tribe, which populates the vast plain of Teraï over its whole reach. The origins of this tribe are mysterious: although Mongoloid characteristics have been detected in them, the linguistic substratum and the social organization leads one to relate them to the tribes of central India. A land-clearing, farming and fishing people, the Rana Tharu adapted themselves and tamed the vast forests of the Teraï, to such a degree that the
government has been obliged to create national parks to protect the animals in danger. They are accustomed to heat and have the reputation of being immune to paludism. Their only recognized territorial unit is the village. Here it is the women who rise up as guardians of the traditions and combat assimilation into an Indo-Nepalese culture. Contrary to other ethnic groups of Nepal, they themselves make their exceptional costume. At a time when the Indian sari triumphs amongst most of the tribes, here, the clothing tradition continues. The design of their very colourful costume, adorned with embroidery and little mirrors, as well as their silver jewelry is very close to the dress style adopted in Rajasthan. Of course, the fabrics and colours change according to current fashions. Like armour, the heavy silver jackets made of old Indian one rupee pieces are part of the daily jewelry of the Rana Tharu. The bronze anklets that they wear can weigh 700 to 800 grams on each leg. And another rare thing in this prudish land, the Rana Tharu women reveal a great part of their body. Naked legs, back and stomach, they slip a black veil over their head to hide their face in the presence of a stranger to the village. Strange contrast. Their short and full skirts, the lahunga, and their jewelry which highlights their calves gives them an upright, proud and graceful air. Contrary to the more restricted gait that the sari imposes, they walk with long strides. With the Rana Tharu, custom seems to separate men from the women. Times when they rub shoulders are rare. Meals are had separately; work is divided. The men often work in the closest towns, a few hours walk away. More often in contact with the outside world they have swapped their loincloths and twill shirts for the universal jean and T-shirt. Men and
women meet up during the festivals that punctuate the seasons. Early this morning a muted percussion rhythm amplified by the thick, end of winter fog announces the start of the festivities. On this day of a full moon in the month of Phagun (March), Holi begins, the festival of Spring, the festival of colours, renewal, love. This festival was inspired by the Bhagavad Gita, the great Hindu epic, when Krishna, Vishnu's avatar, in the company of his 16,108 legitimate wives played at throwing coloured liquids at each other to celebrate the return of Spring. In the spacious entrance to her house, the space reserved for stocking grain and a cool refuge from the murderous sun, Batasu has been preparing for this festival for several weeks, spending her days making a new lahunga. At 16 years she is already thinking of getting married, and Holi is the ideal occasion to meet young suitors rarely present otherwise. Today she will devote her day to long practice of the dances that will begin at sunset. Before anything else, as in each day, the household tasks must be carried out: fetching water, sweeping the courtyard, preparing the dal bhat, rice and lentils that will be eaten with the other women of the clan. The river is the first meeting place. At length she bathes, washes her hair and cleans her skirt, bolero and veil in the company of her friends. Back at the village, other young girls help Batasu in the complex makings of her coiffure. After putting on her new garment and silver ornaments, she carefully puts on her make-up, under her mother's tender gaze. Each of these moments seems to be an offering to the goddess Beauty. Late in the afternoon, the drums start up again, young guys cross the village, it's the call to the fête. Out of flirtatiousness, the young girls keep them waiting, then
arrive timidly in small groups. The sun loses some of its intensity. In groups of four the dancers take their place, in a circle, two drums in the centre. Batasu hesitates to mingle with the boys. The beer and rice alcohol starts to flow. Laughter mixes in with the singing. Hands brush against one another; eyes meet. The fête continues this way for eight straight nights. Each night in the courtyard of a different house, and each night the dancing continues into the early hours of the morning.