Some Bad Customs of Nepal: Ghumtho Pratha, Deuki Pratha, Chhaupadi Pratha, Dowry System

Some Bad Customs of Our Society

Customs are the life related practices which are established and followed by the people of a particular place or class. When the customs pass down from generation to generation, they are called traditions. Our ancestors had established many customs such as worshiping machineries before their first use; land Puja at the time of putting a foundation stone of a building, etc. Now we are following those customs established by our ancestors in the form of our tradition. Many of the customs that we follow are practical and worthy to continue, but, some are very bad. The bad customs have negative effects in the society. Such customs, which have negative effects in the society, are called social evils. Due to lack of education and awareness, there are many social evils prevailing in Nepalese societies. In this lesson, you will read about some social evils which have been victimizing the girls and women in Nepal.

Ghumto Pratha. 

Ghumto Pratha is a tradition of covering the head by the married women with Ghumto (Shawl or the edge of Saree) to hide their face in front of senior male members of the family, community and other people who are to be respected by them. This tradition is common in the Terai region of Nepal. Though it is taken as a normal tradition, it has many negative effects on women. It creates obstacles for the personality development of women and their empowerment, to participate openly in the social activities and makes them feel themselves as second class citizen. It contributes to the practice of gender discrimination and violates the rights of women. It is estimated that 70 percent of women living in the middle and western Terai still wear Ghumtos when appearing before men. Since it is an evil practice, it should be stopped by creating awareness and providing education. Students, social and political workers, women right activists, media, etc. can play an important role to end this tradition by creating awareness among the people.

Deuki Pratha 

Deuki Pratha is an evil tradition prevailing in the hilly region of Sudurpaschim Pradesh of Nepal. It is a practice of offering a girl child before menstruation, to the temple to gain religious merits and favour of the God by the parents. The poor people offer their own child, whereas some rich persons purchase the girl child and offer in the temple. They believe that their family misfortune is ended and they are blessed by the god with what they need such as son to son less parents, good health to the sick people, properties etc. The offered girl is called Deuki. She has to pass her entire life by cleaning and taking care of the temple. It is an evil practice because; it violates every right of the girl offered in the temple. She cannot go to the school, enjoy her life with parents and friends and she is restricted to get married. Deukis are generally not given financial support and live on the offerings of the devotees. So, some of them adopt prostitution for survival. Because of poverty, the poor parents want to get rid of raising and managing the marriage of their daughters and offer as Deuki.Therefore, one of the causes of this evil practice is poverty. In the same way, blind faith in tradition and lack of education and awareness are also equally responsible causes of Deuki Pratha. We should spread awareness and education and generate employment opportunity to end this evil practice.

Jhuma/Lama Pratha 

Jhuma is a tradition similar to Deuki Pratha. It is prevalent in the Himalayan region of Nepal. In this tradition, the second girl child is offered to the monastery where she spends her whole life without marriage. Though, the girl offered as Jhuma can get education, she is restricted to get married and made deprived of enjoying family life. This tradition oppresses the girls in the name of religious practice and violates their human rights. Thus, Jhuma Pratha should be discouraged with the spread of education and awareness.

Chhaupadi Pratha 

Chhaupadi Pratha is common in the Karnali and Sudurpaschim Pradesh of Nepal. It is the practice in which the girls and women are not allowed to live in the house during their menstruation period and kept in a shed called “Chhau”. During the period of menstruation, the females need more care, but they are deprived of hygienic living environment and suffer from various diseases while living in dirty sheds. Similarly, they may become a victim of snake bite, wild animals,fire and sexual exploitation. This tradition violates the rights of women. It is the outcome of superstition and lack of awareness. Thus, media, human rights activists, social workers and students should be active to spread awareness to end Chhaupadi Pratha.

Dowry System 

Daijo is a tradition of giving money, property or some kinds of special gifts in the marriage of a daughter by the parents to bridegroom or bridegroom’s family. It is an evil tradition because it has a bad impact in the society. It gives financial burden to the parents of the bride, contributes to the practice of unproductive expenditure, economic competition and domestic violence. The number of dowry deaths and cases of suicide has been increasing in Nepal due to this tradition. This problem is more serious in the Terai region. Though, “The Social Practice and Reform Act-2033” has defined demanding, taking and giving dowry as a criminal offense and made a provision of legal punishment, this tradition has not been discouraged. Thus, the most effective measure to remove this evil practice is education and social awareness. Besides this, women empowerment, end of gender-based inequality also contribute to bringing this custom to an end.