Tharu Cultural Museum becoming attractive tourist destination in Dang

By Our Correspondent,Ghorahi,Feb.1 : Tharu Cultural Museum, located in Chakhaura, Dangisharan Rural Municipality-3, Dang district, has lately been an attractive tourist destination. 

To preserve Tharu's history and culture, the Museum was established about five years ago.

The museum showcases sculptures depicting Tharu rituals from birth to death. It has become a centre of attraction for both tourism and academic research.

Every day, hundreds of people visit the museum to observe and study Tharu art, culture, ornaments, traditions, customs, attire, and lifestyle.

 The museum exhibits cultural artefacts representing the Tharu community from Morang in the east to Kanchanpur in the west. 

Maya Devi Chaudhary, who visited the museum from Bardiya, said that it provides a glimpse into the unique heritage of the Tharu people, displaying their traditional attire, ornaments and daily activities.

In addition to showcasing Tharu art and culture, the museum also features a full-size statue of the first Tharu king, Dangisharan. 

According to the former Chief Minister of Lumbini Province, Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary, the museum was established with the goal of making Dang a centre for studying Tharu history, culture and identity.

The museum displays various items used by the Tharu community, including traditional clothing, silver jewellery, old currencies, wooden slippers, clay pots, woven baskets, mats, farming tools, sculptures and paintings.

 Former Chief Minister Chaudhary said that the museum serves as a research centre for those interested in studying Tharu traditions and rituals from birth to death. 

He added that the museum spans over four bighas of land and contains assets worth over Rs. 9 million.

“We are developing Chakhaura as a place that provides comprehensive information on the Tharu community from Jhapa in the east to Kanchanpur in the west,” said former Chief Minister Chaudhary. 

“We have collected materials related to Tharu customs, culture, and traditions and we are continuously searching for more.”

The museum features traditional Tharu houses, rooms, and sacred spaces that reflect their settlements, he added.  

According to Shanta Chaudhary, Vice President of the Tharu Cultural Preservation Centre, people from Dang, Banke, Bardiya, and even from Jhapa to Kanchanpur frequently visit the museum for observation and research.

The establishment of the museum has been supported by the Lumbini Provincial Government as well as the Tharu community.

 Vice President Chaudhary said that the museum receives between 200 to 400 domestic and international visitors daily.