Nepali Tharu Jewelry

Tharu kanthshri necklace

In learning about the types of jewelry that I've come across in my adventures with The Red Camel, the jewelry of the Tharu people is some of the least well-known and because of that is some of the most interesting.  Initially I knew next to nothing about this jewelry and the culture it comes from.  So I began to look for information.  Here's what I found.  I hope you enjoy reading about it and the photos of the pieces from The Red Camel's collection.

The Tharu have an interesting and recently somewhat sad history.  They have origins in Rajasthan in northwestern India and claim that they fled eastward from the Mogul invasion in the 16th century.  They settled in the forested and fertile strip of land called the Terai at the foot of the Himalayas in Nepal and northeastern India.  There they hunted and fished, but mostly made their living by agricultural means.  The swamps and forests of the area kept them isolated for hundreds of years.  In the 1950's the eradication of malaria allowed many other peoples to enter the area occupied by the Tharu, and they were pushed further and further into poverty, ending up as bonded laborers to wealthier and more literate groups.  Because of their economic situation, daughters were often sold, either in marriage or as laborers and this still sometimes occurs, although there are now organizations and social programs working to end the practice and improve the economic status of Tharu families.  Arranged marriages are still common, and are often set up while both mothers are still pregnant!  The Tharu are subdivided into several groups and cover a large geographic area.  They are mostly Hindu, but a significant portion are Buddhist.  They speak several languages which are variations of Urdu, Awadhi, and other local languages.

Among the Tharu almost all their personal items, from clothing to household goods are handmade and reflect an eye for beauty.  They make their own cooking pots, baskets, fishing nets and homes.  Their clothing is colorful and beautifully embroidered, each woman making her own dresses in a unique design.   Bright colors are also seen in the pompoms and tassels worn for festivals.  Blouses or vests with the fronts covered in silver Indian rupees are also a part of decorative dress and are handed down as heirlooms from mother to daughter.

Their jewelry is often large and bold and is worn in quantity.  Jewelry can be adorned with either geometric or organic patterns and perhaps a little of both.  Historically made of silver, their adornment is now more and more often mixed metals.  Tharu jewelry pieces show influences from many other cultures, including Middle Eastern, Indian and Southeast Asian.

Among the Tharu almost any part of the body that can be covered in jewelry, is.  Headpieces called ali bands consist of a large round central pendant that sits against the forehead with side bands and sometimes a middle chain and has small dangling bells along the bottom edge.  These pieces remind me of the headpieces found among the Kuchi in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the design is very similar.  There is also a long metal band made of small interlocking links and adorned with larger flat dangles that is worn along the front edge of a scarf or headcovering.  This is a long band that runs from side to side across the top of the forehead.  The flat dangles hang just over the forehead and look quite lovely against their brightly colored scarves.

Jimile 'earrings' consist of a small triangular pendant with long chain dangles ending in small flat pendants worn at the sides of the temples.  Another type commonly seen are large round pieces, also affixed at the temples with hanging chains and pendants.   Both of these 'earring' types are probably attached to the headpiece or scarf or are suspended over the head by a cord.  Some Tharu have stretched ear piercings and wear starburst or flower shaped earrings that are quite large in size.  These can be heavy and are sometimes attached over the top of the head by a cord to take the weight off the ears.

Tharu ear plugs

Most women have a nose piercing and wear either a small ring or stud, but larger round flat plate-types are also common.  These are sometimes decorated with a jewel in the center.

Necklaces are usually large and are sometimes very heavy.  In addition to being used on clothing, coins decorate jewelry as well.  Necklaces of Nepali or Indian coins are worn by both men and women and are sometimes quite ornate.

Tharu coin necklace

 Kanthshri necklaces, worn by the Rana Tharu, are very large, consisting of many separate pieces strung together on cotton cord and closing with a coin button and loop.  These typically look quite spiky and tribal.  A photo of a kanthshri necklace is shown at the top of this post.

Necklaces of chain are seen quite often.  Either multiple chains hanging between two triangular terminals or a larger pendant suspended on chains.  Both types are worn frequently.

Another type of necklace is the hansli, which is a rigid metal torque (a one-piece necklace that looks like a "C" with an opening at the back).  These traditionally have geometric patterns engraved in them and can be slender and lightweight or thick and very heavy.  Amulet necklaces on braided or knotted cord are sometimes worn by women and children as a talisman against evil spirits.  The pendants on these necklaces look very much like bullet casings, (although they aren't, they are simply sheets of metal rolled into a tube) with bits of bone, tooth or wood in one end and a small loop on the other.

Small amulets from a Tharu necklace

Among the most beautiful of Tharu pieces are the taunk necklaces.  These large gorgeous pieces consist of a crescent shaped  piece of metal, usually with a floral design and sometimes with cutouts, worn at the front of the neck.  Lots of round dangles, usually made of wirework, are attached at the bottom edge.  Two arms on hinges are attached at the ends of the crescent and swing open to put the necklace on.  They then swing closed and are secured by a ring or hook in the back.

Taunk necklace with wirework dangles and hinged opening

Tharu bracelets are piled on.  Bangles, cuffs and upper arm bands are worn one over the other and came in almost every type imaginable.  Multiple simple thin bangles made of metal or other materials (some can be very colorful) are stacked up the wrists.  Cuffs can be large or small, thin or thick, made of multiple components strung on cord or plain silver bands.  Large hollow bracelets with a chased floral design are a popular choice.  Upper arm bands too, are made in every design under the sun.  One popular style consists of a sheet of metal, cut into a mostly round shape (actually it more resembles a flower shape), then curved to fit around the upper arm.  A design is usually stamped or etched into the metal.  It is tied to the upper arm with cords attached at each side.  I'll try to find a photo of one of these armbands.

There are two types of ankle adornment typically worn by women.  One type is large and fairly simple in design.  These look like sheets of metal formed into a cylinder and fastened around the lower leg, just above the ankle.  I think they look fairly uncomfortable, but they seem to be worn by a lot of Tharu women, even on an everyday basis.  These may be permanently attached, although I don't know this for certain.  The second type of ankle bracelet are the chain types that are also seen in many areas of India.  These can be simple or intricate, but most consist of some type of metal link formed into a continuous chain, either with or without bells or other small pendants and are worn lower on the ankle, draped across the top of the foot.

Researching jewelry of the Tharu people took me down multiple rabbit holes.  Their history is fairly straightforward and many sources for it can be found.  Researching their jewelry on the other hand, like researching the jewelry of any other lesser-known group, turned up a lot of conflicting tales.  Adding to the confusion there always seems to be 3 different names for each piece, all of which can be correct in a specific place or circumstance.   Here I have combined my own knowledge of the jewelry pieces I have personally seen or had in my possession with the knowledge of my contacts that have dealt with ethnic jewelry over the years and tidbits gleaned from looking at travel photos, books and other sources I could scratch up.

Below I've listed a couple of web sites you can visit to learn a little more about the Tharu.  Please enjoy!

More about Tharu culture: http://www.mercycorps.org/articles/nepal/after-slavery-unshackling-potential

Tharu culture blog:  http://tharuculture.blogspot.com/

Photo set from Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/phguy/6945977229/in/set-72157629129750076/

Blog entry with lots of jewelry photos: http://local-moda.blogspot.com/2013/01/traditional-jewelry-of-tharu-women-of.html

To find beautiful Tharu pieces for sale, please visit The Red Camel's Nepali Jewelry page:  http://www.redcamel.net/Search-by-Region-Tribe/Nepal-Tibet-Himalayas-c47/