TULSIPUR: Steaming hot ‘dhikri’ and ‘ghongi’, prepared in the traditional Tharu style, are no longer confined to Tharu villages and festivals. Traditional dishes that have been prepared in Tharu households for generations are increasingly being commercialized and are emerging as a source of income.
‘Dhikri Ghar’ was inaugurated in Ghorahi, Dang, on Saturday with the aim of promoting and serving traditional Tharu cuisine. Operator Roshan Ratgaiya said the Tharu community is rich in culture, food and traditional lifestyles, but many of its practices are gradually disappearing. He said ‘Dhikri Ghar’ was established to help preserve and promote the community’s culinary heritage.
Although restaurants serving the traditional cuisines of various communities have become common in the market, Tharu cuisine still lags behind in terms of commercialization, Ratgaiya said.
Restaurant owner Jitendra Chaudhary said the restaurant will serve a variety of dishes that represent Tharu culture, including ‘dhikri’ made from rice flour, ‘ghongi’, ‘anadi’ rice, ‘bhakka’, pork, duck, local chicken and crab, among others.
“We will serve all the foods that are an integral part of Tharu identity,” he said. “We hope this initiative will not only help commercialize our traditional cuisine but also contribute to preserving our cultural identity.”
Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City Mayor Narulal Chaudhary said the commercialization of traditional Tharu dishes was a positive development. He described ‘dhikri’ as an important dish of the Tharu community and said many people enjoy Tharu cuisine because of its nutritional and health benefits.
Although Tharu dishes have long been popular, they have not been sufficiently commercialized, he said. The growing commercialization of such cuisine in recent years has created opportunities for income generation and self-employment, he added.
The commercialization of Tharu cuisine has gained momentum in the district in recent years. Businesses such as Kabila Resort in Ghorahi, Tharu Homestay in Dangisharan and Tharu Minhighar in Tulsipur have started promoting and serving traditional Tharu dishes.
Former Lumbini Province Chief Minister Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary said efforts to commercialize traditional Tharu cuisine have also been supported through training. He said members of the Tharu community have received training in Dang and other districts to help promote and preserve their traditional food and culinary practices.
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