Lampucchwa Tharu or Morangiya Tharu is one of the endogamous subgroup of Tharu people whichs are an ethnic group indigenous to the Terai, the southern foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal and India. Likewise Morangiya Tharu dwells in the Eastern plain or Terai of Nepal. They can be found mainly in Morang and Sunsari districts. Though found in two districts, they are called by Morangiya Tharu as those two districts were one district before 1962. Basically, these people would call themselves Morangiya Tharu. But as the women has got tail like structure on their dress, people from other region would love to call them Lampucchwa.
Contents
Distribution
Morang and Sunsari
Culture
They plant rice, mustard, corn and lentils, but also collect forest products such as wild fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants and materials to build their houses; hunt deer, rabbit and wild boar, and go fishing in the rivers and oxbow lakes. They keep domestics animals like Cow, Goat, Pig, Buffalo and birds like Pigeon, Chicken, Duck. They live close to nature. A group of Tharu people who do not eat Pig are said Thokra and they have belief if they consume such meat their kul devi becomes angry as can cause different disease to their family. But other do not have such practices.
Dress
Achra Khadki, a traditional attire is worn by women. Khadki is hand wooven piece of cloth which is only made by Dhimal community and Achra is fine cotton or any other special fabric which has got beautiful hand made paintings. Generally it is white in colour but women would love to wear different color for different occasion. Their Achra has got a tail like structure whom they call as Puccha.
Language
Tharu language which differ from other Tharu sub-groups.
Religion
The spiritual beliefs and moral values of the Tharu people are closely linked to the natural environment. The pantheon of their gods comprises a large number of deities that live in the forest. They are asked for support before entering the forest. They can also be found following Hinduism and Christianity nowadays. Whereas some still have traditional beliefs on kul deuta.
Marriage System
They practice arranged as well as love marriage.