Earning a living by making sacred thread

By Meena Kandel

Kawasoti, Aug. 4:  The occupation of spinning thread by hands has been rare after the development of modern technology.  Bhandari family from Dashghare Chowk of Kawasoti Municipality-5 has been practicing this rare occupation till date. Ishwori Prasad Bhandari and his wife have been spinning thread and making Janai (sacred thread with a religious and cultural significance) using hand spinning wheel in their free time.

According to the Bhandari family, who have been practicing this occupation for five-six years, their annual earning is around 50,000-60,000. They said that they were happy to practice this occupation at their own home since the free time has been put to good use for income generation. 

They have been using the readymade thread from the market since the couple do not have enough time to process the raw materials, cotton and cut it into threads. Their life has been easy from the earnings made by selling the manufactured thread. They have been able to save the earnings after deducting their monthly expenses.

It is said that the spinning wheel occupation has been instrumental to protect the district forest in an alternative way and reduce the human flow into the forest. The thread spinners are in rush after the people make bookings for the thread from different places a month prior to Janai Purnima. 

Bhandari family has been selling Janai to Chitwan, Gaidakot, Daldale, Kawasoti and even across the border to India. 

Even though the sales are high during the peak season, they have been spinning the thread all the year round, according to Bhandari. He added that it would be easy to continue this occupation in their old age if the municipality assisted in product marketing.