Tharu dishes find market beyond villages and festivals

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.