Book on Thami community’s rituals released

By Srijan Kafle,Charikot, July 5: Nepal Thami Society, Dolakha, has released a book titled 'Siloke Palakhe', a historical document of the Thami community.

Member of the House of Representatives Ganga Karki 'Bishwo' and Bagmati Provincial Assembly members Kundan Kafle, Bharat KC and Thula Thami jointly released the book at a programme held at Singati in Bigu Rural Municipality-4 on Tuesday.

 The book is about the traditional rituals of the Thami community. After launching the book, lawmaker Karki and others underscored the significance of 'Siloke Palakhe', the book, in safeguarding the rich ritual and cultural heritage of Nepal's historic Thami community. 

They said that the book would serve as a crucial document in preserving and transmitting the community's rituals and cultures to future generations.

Bagmati Provincial Assembly Member Kundan Kafle highlighted the importance of the book in preserving cultural heritages and emphasised the need for concerted efforts to safeguard the authenticity of the Thami community's culture.

Laxman Thami, the compiler and editor of the book, said that "Siloke Palakhe" is a comprehensive compilation, covering various cultural aspects of the Thami community. 

“The book encompasses topics such as Kulpuja (offering prayer to the ancestral deity), Bhumepuja (offering prayer to mother earth), as well as rituals related to birth, marriage, and death within the Thami community,” said Thami. 

The 700-page book has been published with the financial support of Bigu village of Dolakha, he added. 

According to him, extensive discussions with the shamans of the Thami community were conducted at various stages during the preparation of the book. 

“Their valuable insights and knowledge were incorporated to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of the rituals documented in "Siloke Palakhe,” he informed. 

President Hom Bahadur Thami of the Nepal Thami Society Dolakha emphasised that the Thami community, originally from Dolakha district, are now living across 32 districts in Nepal. 

However, he expressed doubts regarding the population calculations of the Thami community. 

He pointed out that the growth rate observed over a 10-year period, from approximately 28,000 in the 2011 census to 32,743 in the 2021 census, raised questions about the accuracy of the calculations.

Extensive discussions and interactions were held with the shamans from various areas predominantly inhabited by the Thami community. 

These areas include Ward Nos. 6, 7, and 8 of Bigu Rural Municipality, Ward Nos 1, 2, 5, 6, and 9 of Kalinchok Rural Municipality, Ward Nos 1, 2, and 9 of Bhimeshwar Municipality and Ward No. 7 of Melung Rural Municipality.

These interactions aimed at gathering authentic and valuable insights from the shamans and ensuring the accurate representation of the Thami community's rituals in the book.