SATV 16 June, Kathmandu: Raute, a nomadic ethnic group living in the jungles of western Nepal, visited Kathmandu to showcase their traditional wooden utensil-making skills at the National Fine Arts Exhibition held at the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA).
Four Rautes including two men and two women named Deepak Shahi, 25, Dhairya Shahi, 17, Batuli Shahi, 22, and Surmani Shahi, 19, participated not only in the exhibition but also demonstrated their traditional crafts in the two-day workshop.
Artworks from the Raute community were previously featured in the Karnali Province-level art exhibition held in February this year. From that exhibition, select pieces were chosen for the first time to be displayed at the NAFA Exhibition in Kathmandu.
The showcased Raute artworks included Kosi (bowls), Madhus (boxes) and Dadu (kind of pot), Panyu (serving spoon) and more were showcased in the exhibition. The wooden artworks created by Raute youths at the exhibition even won a special prize of Rs. 30,000. During a workshop held in Kathmandu, Raute youth artists Deepak Shahi and Dhairya Shahi crafted ‘Kosi’ from the wood. Meanwhile, female Raute artists Batuli and Surmani Shahi demonstrated their skills by sewing traditional blouses worn by Raute women.
They arrived in Kathmandu on May 29 and received an award for their craftsmanship. During the workshop, they interacted with art enthusiasts and sold 31 wooden pots, each priced at Rs. 1,000.
Lal Bahadur Khatri, popularly known as Jodi Shikshak (couple teacher), has been teaching the Raute community along with his wife for the past seven years. He played a key role in coordinating their participation in the exhibition. Khatri shared that the Raute community generally does not view education positively and they are reluctant to learn reading and writing, largely because they do not stay in one place for long.
He said that over the past seven years, the Rautes have migrated at least 13 times per year, moving through five to six districts in Karnali Province, as well as Achham and Doti in Sudurpashchim Province, and even to Dang. They typically choose places where the environment suits their lifestyle and settle temporarily by putting up tents out of cloth, added Khatri.
Their constant migration is rooted in their traditional lifestyle and their search for good-quality wood, as their primary occupation is crafting wooden utensils, which they sell to sustain themselves, he added.
Devendra Kafle Thumkeli, Member Secretary of the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts, said this was the first time the nomadic Raute community was included in a national art exhibition. The aim was to preserve their traditional art and encourage them to share their craft with a wider audience. He expressed happiness that the Raute community became one of the highlights of the exhibition.
Lal Kaji Lama, Vice Chancellor of the Academy, said that the main highlight of this year’s art exhibition was the Rautes and their workshop. He said the academy was pleased to bring them to the centre stage and noted that the four Raute participants were delighted to present their work to art enthusiasts, politicians, and artists.
According to the Raute Human Rights Status Study Report 2024, the Rautes are Nepal’s only remaining nomadic community. It is believed they have lived in Nepal’s forests, away from human settlements, for nearly 900 years. The Government of Nepal provides social security allowances to Raute individuals, giving each Rs. 3,000 per month.
According to the 2021 National Census, their total population is 566, with 289 males and 277 females. Of these, 419 live in Sudurpashchim Province and 147 in Karnali Province, as mentioned in the report.
The exhibition concluded on Saturday. Over 30,000 art enthusiasts visited the exhibition, said the Vice Chancellor.
He further added that the Raute were very pleased and expressed interest in visiting Kathmandu again.
