Tharus of Dang: Rites de Passage and Festivals

Tharus of Dang / 221 I dead person. Next he dips his right hand in a lota of water and lets water drop in the dead person's mouth. After he has com- pleted this ritual, all other male members do the same in order of their closeness to the deceased: members of the joint-family, first; members of the same lineage, second; and finally members of the clan. Even the small boys of the joint-family of the deceased are also helped by their fathers to do this. After that the chief mourner once again feeds hiran to the dead person on behalf of those male members of the joint-family who could not attend. Now comes the turn of the women, starting with the widow (if the deceased was a male), then affinal women of the joint-family and followed by the affinal women of the same lineage living in the village. Finally the first woman offers hiran once again on behalf of the affinal women who could not attend. 23 Ujri Darna Ceremony
After the hiran khawainā, the ujri darma ceremony is performed.
Ujri means the cup-shape formed by joining the two hands; and
darna means to drop or to pour. For this ritual the performer
has to take about one handful of rice in his cupped hands from
a basket and drop it over the dead body three times. As in
hiran khawainā, the first to inaugurate the rite is the chief
mourner, followed by the members of the joint-family, then the
lineage-men and again the chief mourner on behalf of the absentee
men. Later, the women do as before.
Now, before taking out the dead body from the house, some
of his very personal belongings like the batua (purse) containing
the sulpha (a terracotta pipe for smoking) some tobacco, the
23.
Daughters or sisters of the joint-family whether married
or unmarried are not considered as bonafide members of a
family. Thus they are not allowed to participate in a ritual
concerned with their natal family.