A village view, the houses are spread out down the hillside.
Don't know where the smiles have gone? They don't always have serious faces.The villagers are a tribal people,of Nepali origin from the Lepcha,Bhulia and Sherpa tribes. Their common language is Nepali,however they also converse in their individual tribal dialects. Their facial features and physical build vary ,depending on from which tribe they originate.
Their main occupation is farming,however the region is very hilly and thickly forested,and individual family plots of land are small.They practise terraced farming and some own a few animals, usually cows,goats, pigs or chickens.
A pair of oxen and a wooden plough will be shared by several neighbouring families.
The main crops grown are:rice,potatoes and a variety of green leaf vegetables.
Cash crops cultivated are:broom,ginger and excess vegetables not required for home consumption. Excess meat-mainly chicken,goat and pork is used for bartering for other commodities within the individual village communities.
Similarly with milk and eggs.
The people are hard working and the children also have to help with household tasks, like fetching water,fodder for the animals and firewood for cooking etc. before and after school. Many have a long walk to and from school each day.
Their day starts at first light,between 4.30 and 5am. Darkness fall early between 6 and 6.30pm and as there is often no electricity supply, most people retire for the night by 9pm. Life is hard for the villagers,however they love celebrating special occasions and religious festivals with song,dance and shared meals. They are a generous people and look on a visitor as a gift from God regardless of their religious belief.
Lots of Happy Faces
Their main occupation is farming,however the region is very hilly and thickly forested,and individual family plots of land are small.They practise terraced farming and some own a few animals, usually cows,goats, pigs or chickens.
A pair of oxen and a wooden plough will be shared by several neighbouring families.
The main crops grown are:rice,potatoes and a variety of green leaf vegetables.
Cash crops cultivated are:broom,ginger and excess vegetables not required for home consumption. Excess meat-mainly chicken,goat and pork is used for bartering for other commodities within the individual village communities.
Similarly with milk and eggs.
The people are hard working and the children also have to help with household tasks, like fetching water,fodder for the animals and firewood for cooking etc. before and after school. Many have a long walk to and from school each day.
Their day starts at first light,between 4.30 and 5am. Darkness fall early between 6 and 6.30pm and as there is often no electricity supply, most people retire for the night by 9pm. Life is hard for the villagers,however they love celebrating special occasions and religious festivals with song,dance and shared meals. They are a generous people and look on a visitor as a gift from God regardless of their religious belief.
Lots of Happy Faces
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