Denhari (Nepali: देनहरि) or Dehari(Nepali: देहारि) is a traditional earthen vessel used to store food grains by Tharu people of Nepal. It is made by using loamy clay, paddy straw and rice husk and has a round, rectangular or conical shapes. It is mostly made by females and mostly used to store paddy, wheat, rice, maize, lentils, peas and mustard seeds.[1]

Tharu Women with their Bhakari(Dehari in Tharu)
Tharu Women with their Bhakari(Dehari in Tharu)
Denhari

The vessel is also an integral part of religious festival and cultural activities. There is a tradition of breaking a special Denhari called Pataha Denhari during the marriage of daughter and the food grains stored in it is given to her.[1]

It is believed that the grains stored in Denhari does not decay or get infested with insects. Among the Tharu community, Denhari is never kept empty as it would be a bad omen.[1][2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Sen, Sandeep (2020-12-13). "Denhari, the indigenous craft of Tharus, on verge of disappearance". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  2. ^ "Earthenware still preferred in Tharu community". GorakhaPatra. Retrieved 2023-07-17.