Jaleshwor (Mahottari), Oct 29: The people from Dom community are busy preparing bamboo baskets for the approaching Chhath festival in the district.
The community is swamped with the
activities to produce varieties of bamboo baskets as doko, dalo and nanglo
which are consumed much during the Chhath, celebrated in Tarai with much
fanfare and devotion, immediately after the Tihar.
Making of bamboo items is an
inherited skill and knowledge of our community, said Bhogindra Dom from
Jaleshwor municipality-2. "We manage our foods, shelter and clothes by
selling the wicker baskets of various kinds," he added.
The traditional homemade items are
in high demand during the festival. The earning also helps the Dalit community
celebrate festival in a relative comfort.
Jaleshwor, Matihani, Pipara,
Aurahi, Gaushala, Sonama, Ram Gopalpur, Yekdara, Manral of the district have
Dom settlements.
A 70-year-old Bechani Dom from
Manrasiswa municipality-1, said, "We are swamped with the activities to
weave cleft slices of bamboo for dalo, nanglo, talu and tapari when the month
Kattik begins. From early morning to late evening, we're immersed."
She further said it was a good
opportunity for them to make earning. The wicker baskets are used to carry
fruits to offer to the Sun God during the Chhath festival in Tarai.
Every house buys at least five such
wicker baskets for the festival purpose.
Bikau Dom from Pipara-1 informed
that even the Dom people believe that the Sun God and Chhathi Mata arrive at
their doorsteps with the onset of the festival. The traditional bamboo items
are prepared for devotees.
Bijay Dom from Sonam rural
municipality-3 shared that a Dom household earns as high as Rs 100 thousand by
selling the bamboo trays and baskets in a month.
As the number of people celebrating
the Chhath festival has increased in Tarai/Madhes in recent years, demand for
such goods also peaked. (RSS)