Dashain brings Hurdungwa dance fervour to Bardiya's Tharu villages

As Dashain draws near, Desauri Tharu villages in Bardiya are abuzz with the traditional Hurdungwa dance. After finishing the day's farm work, the village's women and men gather in the evening in the courtyard of the Badghar or Matawa and dance to the beat of madal and manjira late into the night, singing as they go.

Local resident Tetiram Tharu said the dance has been taking place every night in Bhaisahi village, Gularia Municipality-12. In Motipur, Bansgadhi Municipality-6, too, the dance is held daily, with madal repair, singer selection and dance group preparations under way, according to local Ramkisun Tharu.

The dance begins with a lachari song, after which two groups take turns repeating songs and performing a collective dance to the rhythm. The group's main leader is called Mohiya and the second leader Pichhgunya, while men dress as women to play the role of Bathinya.

According to Parshuram Tharu, an expert on Tharu culture, songs sung in the afternoon are called Dingitwa, those at night Kahara, and morning songs Bihagara. Besides these, songs such as Lachari, Phulwar, Chudari Bilap and Mahirawan are also sung, which are linked to the glory of the Ramayana and of Shiva-Parvati.

According to Bahadur Bairagi Tharu, chairperson of the Bar-Bardiya Barghar Network, this dance, which begins from the Hareri Puja in Bhadau, continues for about a week after Dashain ends. The Desauri Tharu community also lives in Banke, Dang, Kailali and Kanchanpur besides Bardiya.