Ishowr and Apsara
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
Sifting rice
Betrawati, 2011
Eight children playing around clumps of dried rice bundles
Betrawati, 2002
Fields below, sky above
Phutung, Kathmandu, Nepal, September 24th, 2015
Friends harvesting
Phutung, Kathmandu, October 28th, 2015
After Nag Pokhari [snake pond, so-called for the statue of a naga in the middle], there is a S-curved jog in the road with fields of rice on both sides.
In the field to my left, I could see the familiar face of Ramita (in the head-scarf), so I hopped down to the field (it's about three feet lower than the road) and walked over.
A tarp or canvas had been laid out on the ground and they were taking clumps of cut rice stalks and beating them on the ground to shake off the rice kernels. When the stalks were empty, they were handed to Siddhi who would arrange them on the stack.
I asked them if they wanted a group photo and they were up for it, so I politely told them basnush, basnush [sit, take it easy] and joked with them while I took a few photos.
From left to right, they are Gita, Bishnu-maya, Ramita, and Sarlina.
Siddhi is standing on top of the haystack.
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Imose emerges from a field of rice
Dadagaun, Kathmandu, Saturday, September 26th, 2015
I was watching two children work together to launch a kite, when I heard voices in the nearby field of rice. Although I couldn't see anyone, stalks of rice were moving about. As I walked over, Imose emerged from the rice, playing with his scarf. His friend followed a minute later.
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Imose’s friend emerges moments later.
Children playing with rice stalks
Betrawati 2000
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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
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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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.