Traditional oil press machines in museum

By Gokarna Paudel,Tulsipur, Feb. 27: Traditional oil presses, once essential for extracting oil and grinding grains, are now being preserved in museums thanks to technological advancements. 

The Tharu Museum in Chakhoura, Dangisharan Rural Municipality, showcases not just oil presses but also traditional tools like grinding and husking tools. 

Previously, these tools took hours to process grains, but modern technology now completes the task in just 20 to 30 minutes.

Visitors like Rama Nepali from Banhari, Tulsipur-4, reflect on how these once-common tools are disappearing from villages without preservation efforts. She believes museums will help future generations understand their importance.

With the rise of electric mills, such traditional practices are fading, especially in urban areas. However, nutritionist Dr. Aruna Upreti highlights the health benefits of grains processed using traditional methods, preserving essential nutrients.

Cultural expert Ashok Tharu adds that tools like these hold not just health value but cultural significance too, as oil presses were often worshipped before use, a ritual believed to bring peace and harmony to the community.