Durandanda boasts a glorious history and has played an important role in bringing educational awareness. Dura Danda is the main dwelling place of Dura people and it is related to the establishment and history of Shah Dynasty. Since, Dura people lived here first, it is known as Dura danda. Altogether Six VDCs fall under this historical place. These VDCs are Chandreshwor, Dhusryani, Purankot, Sindure, Ratnadevi and Duradanda.
Dura ethnic group is one of those many ethnic groups economically, socially, educationally and politically backward and are also deprived of many facilities enjoyed by the people belonging to other ethnic groups. These people have been living in Duradanda for a long time. Dura people have started to live in 12 different districts of the country. But most of them are living in Turlungkot, Bhangu, Thuloswanra, Khajegaon, Kaneswanra, Baspani, Neta, Kunchha, Bardhan, Handikhola, Bhorletar, Chisangkhu, Amdanda in the district of Lamjung and Shishaghat, Ramche, Dharampani, Tanahusur, Ramthumki, Kyamin and the like in the district of Tanahun. It is said ,The Duras, today, have scattered over 12 districts from Duradanda including places like Pokhara ,Bhairawa and Kathmandu (Dura, undated).. However Dura danda of Lamjung district is the main dwelling place of these people in Nepal.
View near DuradandaDura people have remarkable history from ancient times in the history of Nepal. Dura people had aligned with the other people to overthrow the tyrannical rule of the then Ghale rulers and establish the rule of Shah Dynasty. KHAJE DURA the brave fore father of the present Dura people was born in and had been brought up in the Khaje Gaun which was named after him. A statue of that brave forefather was built in 2033 B.S. as a tribute to him. The area around the statue is called Khaje park. The people of this area have been celebrating Khaje Dura jayanti every year on the 21st of Kartik by organizing various programmes.
The tribe of Dura are a minority indigenous people whose Language also called Dura is near extinction. Approximately 1,500 words and 250 sentences have been found so far in Dura language (Dura Seva Samaj, ibid). Animistic practices are common to them. However, some of them prefer to call themselves Buddhists and some Hindus. Round-faced, flat-nosed and short in stature, Duras have their own unique traditions and culture though their religious and cultural formalities are quite similar to Gurungs. Their sons are fitted with bows and arrows on the very day of their naming ceremonies, a fact that reflects on their martial heritage. They have no definite history of their origin. Duras use lama or ghyabring, a shaman, to perform death rites.
Only Surviving Speaker of Dura Language , 83 years old Soma Devi Dura (Right) .But its so sad she neither replies nor she hears what you said.she is deaf.
Source www.smitamagar.com/soma_devi_dura_49.htmlDuras are of five types, ie five clans. Marriage does not take place among the thars (clans) like Dhingal, Pache and Darde. Similarly, marriage does not take place between Puhi and Kyausa. But marriage can take place between Dhingal, Pache and Darde and Puhi and Kausa groups. Marriage is done both by arrangement and by mutual agreement between the boy and the girl in question. The son of father's sister can marry the daughter of his maternal uncle. But the son of maternal uncle cannot marry the daughter of father's sister.
In the naming ceremony it is customary among the Duras to hang a bow on the shoulder of the child like Gurungs. Duras celebrate the happy occasion of the birth of the first born son by merrymaking with the relatives from maternal home. This celebration is called 'putpute'. The practice of merrymaking by sitting in rodi and by singing and dancing is found among the Duras as well. They get the rituals observed after death of someone in the family. The death rites are performed by Lama or by ghyabring (Gautam and Thapa Magar, 1994:200).
Sarbodaya School, Duradanda, LamjungDuras depend on agriculture and animal husbandry for their livelihood. The practice of parma (a form of labour exchange) is prevalent among them. The teams of parma are called huri and feasts are organized from the proceeds of the wages earned by the huris. This practice of eating together is called risiya eating. Women in Dura society are treated with respect and they are free to run their pewa or privately-owned business, to do other works of their interest and enjoy humour by playing jokes. Although there is no social discrimination against women, they are not entitled to share of the inherited property.
Bima Kumari Dura, One of the famous Nepalese folk singer from Dura Community, DuradandaSOME OTHER FACTS ABOUT DURA
APPEARANCE - Physically Dura people look like Mongoloid. They are considered as Matwali. They are friendly and honest. They don't pick up a fight first but if provoked they don't withdraw. Other characteristics of Dura people are that they join military service and are fond of hunting and fishing
RODHI- Though Rodi is integral to Gurung culture it has also taken roots among Dura people. Rodi is recreational in nature where the young males and females gather at a place to forget their worries and anxieties. After a day's work these young people assemble at a place and enjoy singing and dancing to overcome the exhaustion from the day's work. Nowadays this system is threat of existence due to the impact of modernization.
FOOD AND DRESS- For their day to day consumption Duras eat different dishes prepared from the food grains they have produced themselves. Usually they eat meat and fish. Since they keep cattle they use milk and milk products. On the occasion of feast and festivals they show hospitality to the guests by serving wine and meat. Nowadays they also buy different food items from the market. The dress of Dura people is not very different from the dress of other people. As for the traditional dress worn by males-Kachchhad, Sash, Bhoto, waistcoat, cap and gadi are typical. Whereas females wear Chhitka, Gunju, Ghalek, Cholo, Tikis, Majetro, Dhoti, and embroidered lungis and sash are typical. As for the traditional ornaments women use Butte marbadi, Naugedi, Jartar, Kantha, Dhungri, Silmundri, Phuli, Bulanki, Ring, Chandrama are the typical ones. However, nowadays, they have started using the dress and ornaments as per their wishes and capacity. Traditional dress and ornaments are used by the old and the young on certain special occasions only.
FESTIVALS- Many festivals of the Dura people have an affinity with Hindu culture and religion.
Besides, there are some festivals which are related to nationality, history and society. Some of the
major festivals celebrated by Dura people are described below in brief.
• Baishakh Purnima
• Shrawan Sakranti
• Teej
• Bada Dashain
• Tihar
• 21st of Kartik- (Every year 21st Kartik is celebrated as Khaje Memory day. This day is celebrated by conducting various programmes. On this day celebrations take place in memory of their brave forefather Khaje Dura. The then Ghale kings were defeated and Shah Dynasty came into existence owing to the valory of their gallant forefather Khaje Dura. His statue was erected in Chihanpata in the year 033 B.S.
• 15th of Paush- (It’s the New Year of Dura people begins from the 15th of Paush on this day Barga changes and the extra years they have lived are counted. Many enjoyable programmes are held on this day.)
• 27th of Paush- (On this day all the academic institutions, different organizations and offices in Duradanda organize meetings and ceremonies as well as other competitive programmes along with rally to celebrate the day in a grand manner. This day is celebrated in Sindure Dhunga which is located in Sindure village development committee. This day is believed to be the day on which Khaje Dura had offered sindur to Yesho Brahma Shah in Sindure Dhunga as part of the process of establishing Shah Dynasty. In addition to this, this day is also celebrated as the birth day of king Prithivi Narayan Shah, who is supposed to be the symbol of national unity.)
• Maghe Sakranti
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• Falgun Purnima
• Chaitra Dashain
Group photos of dura Peoplesource - http://www.telegraphnepal.com/news_det.php?news_id=2366
http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/DSAJ/article/viewFile/292/284
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