Women and girls harvesting
Women and girls harvesting
Tupche, 2000
Closer up
Closer up of those on the left
Closer up of those on the right, Malati second from the left
Ishowr and Apsara
Harvest time
Harvest time
Betrawati, 2002
Lila
Rukmani
Abash
Nisha
Usha
hajurbua and Nisha
Nisha
Brother Rajendra, sister Rukmani, and little brother Khancha
Rajesh Thapa and Rajendra
Rukmani’s family, with little Khancha giving a namaste
Yashoda
Sisters Kabita, Babita, Sushmita and Ashmita
Sisters Kabita, Babita, Sushmita and Ashmita
Betrawati, November 2002
A group photo of four of the five sisters from yesterday’s post.
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During the rice harvest
During the rice harvest
Betrawati, November 2002
Here is a photo that more clearly illustrates some of the rice stalks amassed during the rice harvest (I mentioned this in yesterday’s post, the photo from which was taken at the same time as the one above).
The children in this photo are:
Back row, from left to right—
Rupa (gold kurta), Bipana (in the middle), Dipa (white shirt)
Front row, from left to right—
Ashmita (maroon tee-shirt), Anita (red kurta top), Kobita (flowered dress), Sushmita (gold and white shorts)
Little Bobita sits naked on a stack of the stalks.
Ashmita, Bipana, Bobita, Kobita and Sushmita are all sisters.
The man in the background is wearing a topi, the traditional Nepali hat for men.
Finally, you can see the backside of a family (buffalo) cow under the roof on the left.
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Saraswati
Saraswati
Betrawati, November 2002
I took this photo during the rice harvest. The ground all about us was littered with dry rick stalks, and children played on the mounds stacked on the side of the path. Later these stalks would be used as feed for the family buffalo.
Saraswati was named after the Hindu goddess of art, knowledge, learning, music, and wisdom.
I find Saraswati’s smile in this photo so warm and true.
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Nisha harvesting
Nisha harvesting
Betrawati, 2002
When a rice field is ready to harvest it is drained and let to dry. Once the ground is hard, the grass is cut by hand. When it’s dry enough, a tarp is laid out and a large stone is placed in the middle. Swinging handfuls of the grass against the stone, the rice is separated off and gathers on the tarp. A child collects the clumps of grass and makes large stacks, which can later be fed to a family buffalo.
The sickle-like tool Nisha is holding is called a hi-shuh.
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Nisha, all but hidden in a field of rice stalks.