Continuity and Change: An EthnographicStudyof the Danuwars of Bhalwai in Kamala Khonch, Sindhuli District

Abstract

This isan ethnographic studyof rural Danuwar, an ethnic group of innerterai, which came to interact with the Parbatiya emigrants after the success ofDDT spraying campaign against malaria in Bhalwai settlement of KamalaKhonch of Sindhuli district. Since 1960s, different caste/ethnic groups (Parbatiya)from hills and indigenous Danuwars have been living there together. Danuwars ofBhalwai have developed their own methods of identity management through theprocesses of persistence and change. The persistence and change are taken placemore spontaneous, more locally informed dialectical interplay at the boundary.Danuwar Jagaran Samiti (DJS) has been trying to drive all the Danuwars into acommon cultural territory of ethnic groups but the Danuwars of Bhalwai areunaware regarding modern ethnic consciousness. Some of the distinct identity markers and continuation of Danuwars ofBhalwai include: Danuwari language, beliefs in god and goddesses, traditionaloccupations (fishing, hunting, and basket weaving), food habits, and rituals(marriage Sariyati and the three day cremation). Dress-ornaments, Chhodaki Nachand Manjani systems are observed changes among the Danuwars of Bhalwai.