Tarai women prepare mud homes to welcome Tihar and Chhath

Siraha, November 6 Festive excitement is growing in villages across the Tarai as Tihar and Chhath approach. Women are busy cleaning, plastering and decorating their homes to welcome the festivals. Phulkumari Urau and Sunilkumari Urau of Bhaijitole Choharwa in Golbazar Municipality-8, Siraha, have been busy plastering their homes to give them a fresh look. Similarly, Rekhadevi Mandal of Baghaha in Karjanha Municipality-11 is preparing for the festivals by plastering her mud house.

She is decorating the walls and courtyard by mixing soil with water and applying the mixture in the traditional way. According to Mandal, plastering mud houses is a longstanding tradition in her community. “We are people who find joy in living close to the earth. Every year, we prepare for festivals this way.

We brighten our homes by plastering them with mud. Only the wealthy can afford to build concrete houses,” she said. Although the attraction towards modern concrete houses is growing, mud houses continue to hold their own significance and emotional value in rural Tarai communities.