A man with Hope

I saw a man beside a Karnail Higway at Litakot village of Tatopani VDC,Jumla. He was Weaving a "Leiw" local Carpet made of wool and his friends were looking his work. His Name is  Mr. Chandra Bir Budha age of 65 years old.He is disable he has lost his leg when he was small.

Mr Chandra Bir Budha Weaving a "liew" local Carpet

He is a business person in Jumla. He has started handmade local carpet business in Litakot.Their closest market is 22 km far Jumla bazaar. He started this hand made carpet business to support local economy,to time pass as he could not go and work as his friends used to.

He started this business because people always look at me with sorrow and thinking how could I survive and what a problem with a family however all family member support and help him to his business and in every steps.

Ready Carpet

Under making Carpet

He attended many business-festivals in Jumla bazaar organized by small cottage industry and District chambers of commerce.He was appreciated and awarded of his work and gets many awards and owner as well.

But these days he said ,I am not able to run as it was before . I said why?, he said first we used to give radi ,pakhi,carpet ,liew to the senior officer of eac office as a souvenier from my self with the hope of getting some budget and help from their offices to expand this business.

Mr Chandra Bir Budha bed and his working area

with upset; he said he never get helps but lost almost more than 2 lakhs. from then nightmare of my business started. one piece of liew minimum cost Rs.4500 and varies from size and tooks 2 week to complete.minimum cost of radi cost Rs.3500 and varies from size. Galicha minimum cost Rs.8000 and cost varies from its size.It tooks 10-15days to complete a piece of Galicha.

locally he gave jobs to 15-20 people at his business but now no body works their however he himself used to work but he has still very determination to rise his business.

Then, also I visited his place where he has chan(weaver machine) locally made machine to stich woolen rope for radi.The room was on the top of his house but easy to climb from road side.

Mr.Bali Dharala showing me photo from this picture he needs her single picture.

While entering inside a room a old man his fried called Mr Bali Dharala was sleeping at the door side.I greet him by saying Namaste and click his photo later. he talked with me and asking for took picture of his wife from a group photo that he has. He wantonly photo of his wife because she died a few months before and he has no single photo of his wife. later when I asked to show me the photo that was in not in good condition that was folded and folded so i said it is not possible to brought your wife photo because you kept your photo in wrong way otherwise I could. later he shows me his wife voting card to took pic from it.and that was also in not good condition everything is black although identity number and detail was their.so,I decided to go and ask with local election office of Jumla and ask for photo that has been taken during collection of voter list. i saw very clearly that he has agreat hope that I will provide him his wife photo. after a few week I managed and travelled a 22 km from Jumla bazaar to give his wife photo that means a great affection,love and rememberence of his wife Ms.Dhauleni Dharala .  

Bali Dharala at his friend working place

In that room I saw a bed at corner and left side of his bed has locally made machine with wooden stic that used to stich radi  and Pakhi and in front sid of bed the machine of carpet was their. All materials used for making these things are locally suppied like woolen,black colour etc.

Mr. Chandra Bir Budha informing me his business

He showed me his certificcate from where he get trained and get hope to start business.He is also a trainer for radhi pakhi and carpet making in Jumla.He also showed me from where he get awarded he said many times he was awared and receive owner in Jumla bazaar.Also he said his interview has been taken by many local news agencies of Jumla but nothing happen to my businees.I hope you may be supportive.

I wish that many helping hands will come forward to help his business and promote his work.

Reasons Why you Need to Travel Jumla

Reason Why You need to Explore Jumla

·      Witness wilderness, untouched and pristine

Irrigation canal at Talium

·      Experience what very few have before you, trekking through some of the most remote regions

Very pleased children from Jumla

·      Jumla is the place from where Nepali Language is originated.

Heritage attractions of Sinja that needs desperate needs of preservation

·      It has still scattered ruins of palaces, temples, Gadi/Military camping Sites and monuments needs to promote and preserve.

Panchadewal of Talium

·      It is the highest place on earth where Kalo Marsi rice cultivating.

women enjoying and dancing with typical songs called Magal during Ropain;Planting rice plants

·      Jumla is famous for apple farming and walnuts.

·      Jumla is the first district declares as an Organic District of Nepal.

·    Sports person can come and get trained in Jumla (for High altitude training) with Hari Rokaya (Gunnies World Record Holder/Everest Marathon Hattricker) in his Sport Club.

High altitude marathon Nationa Hero of Nepal and Coach (photo from his page)

·      It is the gateway to Rara lake of Mugu and Dolpa.

·      Jumla is rich in herbal resources and one can easily visit and experience in such a high grassland areas where Yarshagumba found, in a very short trek (a 3 Nights/4 days).

In search of Yarshagumba

·      Jumla is still a virgin land where many places need to explore.

·      To attend in many unique festivals like Ropai and Dhan festival, Bisuwa festival; women celebrating of seedling of rice; Changing and Standing of Wooden loge (Linga) at famous Chandanath and Bhairavnath Temple in Bazaar during Ghatasthapana of Dashain. Unique Gaijatra festival celebrated in Jumla for 7 days on Shrawan/August.

changing new Linga at Chandanath Temple during Ghatasthapana of Dashai Festival

Snowcovered Jumla

Caravan of women carrying loads of firewood at Haku bridge

A typical culturl drummer in Jumla called Pancehy baja is still in practices during wedding and other functions.

View of Lamra village and Jumla bazaar from panchadewal at Talium

And for many more reason…………………………………

villagers working on road construction at Badki VDC

See how Public works and Social Protetion funds works in our region in following links of Asian Welfare. On those days; I worked as translater for Rasmus from Denmark who write this beautiful article of our region.
http://rasmusjs.net.php54serv1.webhosting.dk/asianwelfare/2015/02/19/feature-the-delicate-art-of-combining-public-works-and-social-protection-in-nepals-karnali-region/

welcome with tika and Mala of Barley at working site

going to see how irrigation canal working at Bajagada village for his article

a girl from Jogibada Village of Badki VDC interviewing Rasmas during hiking

Ropain;The Rice Planting Festival in Jumla

17 June 2015

Ropai; The Rice Planting Festival

Chief District officer Mr.Dipendra Raj Poudel, planting rice plants

District Agriculture Office,Jumla organised the Rice Planting Festival in the historically important Laachu Jeuwla( Laachu field prepared by the Lachal Kirti Paikalo; Lachhal Kirti, a famous ruler and wrestler of the time and one of the disciples of the sage, cut the hillock near Khala chour, a place between the villages of Micha and Sridhuska, to let the water flow.) at Tatopani VDC. It lies 12km far from district headquarter Khalanga.

Rally of Festival

Laachu Jyaulo

The festival begins by planting rce plant by the Chief District Officer ,Mr.Dipendra Raj Poudel and Liasion District Officer Mr. Ishwori Kumari Giri with other senior officials from different Govt offices and NGOs who attended the festival.

 

Locally called Mohi;preparing field

 Rapoain is a unique festival to observein Jumla.It is the highest place in world where rice is cultivated. In Jumla before Monsoons starts the framers enjoy sowing rice plants in their fields.The farming system in Jumla is still quite traditional.

 

preparing oxen for plouging

enjoying with Panchey Baja

Government of Nepal started to celebrate Ropain Festival from 2063 B.S. First of Asar is observed as Ropain Festival and Dhan Festival in Jumla where as government of Nepal declare as 15 of Asar is a Ropain Festival in all Nepal.

women dancing on the field

The work of farming can be the fun of the highest level and it can be observed during Ropai Festival in Nepal. Oxen ploughing fields, women sowing seeds and farmers digging the fields and the fun part of drenching each other with muddy water in the field are a great enjoyment.

locally called Biyaray,helps to maintain the khet in a same level

The traditional music fusioned with typical Ropai songs sung by the farmers fill the atmosphere in the fields. The monsoon festival related with agriculture and celebrated by the farmers these days is a center of attraction in Jumla.

History of Paddy Cultivation

Kalo Marsi;a special species of paddy suitable in high altitude and alpine climate is grown in Jumla.

The marsi grown in Jumla is considered as one of the Kashmiri varieties of paddy. According to a local legend, a Kashmiri sage Chandan Nath on his way to Mansarowar arrived at Jumla during thirteenth or fourteenth century. He meet (Lachal kirti paikalo; a powerful wrestler of the time later King of the region)  at Jumla. Valley was a big Lake. He said here can be rice grown to Paikalo, later he opened way to pas the water before Chandanath Baba came from Manasarowar, Lachhal Kirti had already prepared the terrace of "Guru Phokto" (also called "Lachhu Jyulo") near Tatopani, a perennial source of hot water.The Chandan Nath then returned to Kashmir from where he brought back paddy seed of marsi.

Further more; the Chandanath Baba taught the techniques to be adopted and the schedule of activities to be followed in order to cultivate paddy. The people believe that the god Chandan Nath originally prescribed the custom. This is therefore a part of their religious duty to follow it as exactly as possible.

Calendar of Rice Cultivation in Jumla practice

Date	Activities
Chaitra 12	Keeping paddy seeds in water to moisten
Chaitra 16	Bringing the moistend seeds and dry in sunlight. keep it near to warm place in Kitchen to maintain wamth and ease to germinate
Chaitra 18	Seedling in the seedbed locally called Bennu
Jestha 1-Asar first week	Uprooting paddy seed and planting on the prepared field called Khet.
Asar( June)	Weedinfg paddy ( once a month)
Shrawan	Weedinfg paddy ( once a month)
Bhadra	On the day of Ganesh Chouthi,  bring one tuft of paddy at home to offer to the god Ganesh.
Kartik	Cutting, threshing, winnowing and harvesting of paddy. From the first harvest, one Supa of paddy, called shikh is offered to the sage Chandan Nath. But these days few people only offered Shikh .

Planting of rice plants

women planting rice plants and crowd watching a festival

In search of Yarshagumba,a Himalayan Viagra

people heading to Thaurgyu pata for yarsha collection

People from different VDC of Jumla; Small children to high age people, with out concerning any difficulties and sufferer are in High Grass land for collecting economically well-introduced herb Yarshagumba (Cordyceps sinesis). Per piece Yarsha cost Rs.500 to Rs1000 (approx. USD 5 to 10) varies according to size. 2014 Per Kg Yarshagumba costs approx. Rs 30 lakh USD 32000 and this year believed cost would rise. Cordyceps sinesis is a rare and unique herb that grows in the meadows above 3500m in the Himalayan region of Nepal. It is believed to be a cure for sexual impotency.

Tents of yarsha collecter at Dhauligada

A yarsha collecter since 18 years in this grassland Mr.Krishna Pandey from Biyarey village, Deepalgaun VDC said, collecting yarsha this year is very tough than any other year because there is still high level of snow that have never seen before because of this we stay with out searching yarsha for a week.

in search of yarsha

People pay tax of Rs.100 to forestry office, Jumla and take receipts before heading otherwise they are penalized at the grassland areas.

yarsa plant

Way of picking Yarsha

Fresh Yarsha

It take two days to reach this closest high grass land of Jumla called Thakurgyu Patan . This grass land is also known as a potential trekking sites having cultural and religiously important lakes ; Thakurgy lake, Hudkey daha, Sankha daha , Gidhi Daha .

14 year boy cooking meal for his group

We met around 200 people from different VDC of Jumla who were there from 2 weeks and collecting Yarsha. These days graph of people who are going to collect Yarsha are increasing. 

preparing to get sleep

Furtehr; glimpse of yarsha collection in photos

Duni patan

people passing Chaudhary vitto pass in search of yarsa

people cheer ups when they saw us

way to Thakurgyu patan

in search of Yarsha

Yarsha

sunset from dhauligada camp

Thus, anyone who willing to go for yarsha Trek and photography they can contact us.