Putha Uttarganga to use local tika, dubo and flowers, jettisons khada, vermillion

By Jayaman Budha Magar,Rukum East, Apr. 16: Whenever a programme is to be organised, someone is given a responsibility to buy khada, a traditional Nepali scarf, and vermillion from the market. It is because khada and vermillion are the items used to welcome guests in Nepali culture.

But Putha Uttarganga Rural Municipality in Rukum East district has decided to stop their use, citing that the tradition of giving khada and putting on vermillion to welcome guests is an unnecessary expenditure. 

A rural municipal council meeting held last Monday decided to use local tika, flowers and dubo, also known as Bermuda grass, as the welcoming items.

“This step will help us reduce our expenses on imported items. Not only will we be using local items ourselves, we will also try to promote the concept and marketize them,” said Rajan Kandel, chief administrative officer of Putha Uttarganga.

Kandel informed that the rural municipality will now use the local tika made by mixing rice grain with curd, dubo and flowers to welcome arriving guests in its official programmes.

“The rural municipality spent around Rs. 150,000 in the last fiscal year on khada and vermillion. By promoting local products, we will reduce unnecessary expense and conserve our local tradition,” said Kandel.

“These local items were used by our ancestors. We started using khada and vermillion by copying others. Now, we will promote our own local culture and tradition,” said Puniraj Gharti Magar, chairman of Putha Uttarganga.