Tharu women of Tikapur, Kailali perform Maghauta Dance. They have a tradition of singing the Sakhiya songs and performing Maghauta dance in Maghi, Tharu New Year's Day. Photo by the author

Tharu Songs 

Tharus have numerous songs for different months, festivals, seasons, and times. Through different songs they express their innermost feelings, emotions of joy, sorrow, loneliness, devotion, and whatever touches them in their daily life. Tharu songs are sung by both males and females even when there is no dancing. Singing is often accompanied by musical instruments. A few of Tharu songs that comprise the creation mythology i.e. Guru Babak Jalmouti and several long songs called Phulwar narrate the adventures of Mahadev and his wife Parvati. Pachara is one of the songs which is chanted by Guruwa to appease the deities while initiating dance. 

One who initiates singing is called Mohriya (main singer) and Mohriniya (female main singer). First, Mohrniya sings the song and then other participants repeat the lines. A unique feature is that men and women do not sing together. They sing separately in chorus one after another. There are no duets sung by them, except Sajana in Goru beharna and Maina. Tharu songs are rhythmic with a special theme to express feelings. They do not sing the same song that they sing in the morning. If they sing the same song, the lyric is changed. Similarly, they do not sing the song after midnight, that they sing in the evening. 

Maagar song is sung on the occasion of wedding. Jhumra song is a song that demands a dance in a group. It is performed at any festival on any occasion and any time of the year. It includes four female impersonators who dance with Delwa on their heads. They are accompanied by two drummers. Kabir song is sung during marriage. It is the song of abuse. Sakhiya song is mostly sung by women. It is performed by the Tharu youth during the Dasya festival. Its performance takes place at night and it lasts up to Raaj Tika. After Dasya, an additional performance needed to complete the song is conducted at night. 

Ram bihagra is the Tharu version song of the Ramayana. Maina song begins and ends with the word Maina. This song is sung in Dang Deukhuri from March to May. It is often sung in the forest while grazing cattle, collecting firewood and grass, and walking along the street. This song is also sung while resting under the cool shade, making leaf plates, and doing domestic chores. It does not include dance, but sometimes flute. 

Sajana song is sung at work and while going to the forest to cut grass and collect firewood. When the rain delays and farmers are desperate for it, the elders sing and others follow them. It is believed that this song brings rain and makes it possible to sow maize. This song is sung in the Gaiya/Goru beharna. The Dhumru song is sung in a group of Tharu during Maagh in the Tharu houses. They have the tradition of singing this song sitting in a circle and setting a fire in the middle. The Bangitwa song is sung when people are at work. It is sung while they are in the forest to collect firewood, timber, grass, leaves, etc. 

Tharu Dances 

Tharu dances are performed to entertain people on various occasions and fulfill different functions. Dance is a way of expressing joy. Tharus mainly dance in a group. They have their traditional style of dance. A person who dances is called Nachuniya and the person who plays the drum is Mandariya. Tharu dancers make their spectators spell-bound with their attractive dance, costumes, and heavy ornaments. Tharus celebrate Maagh, Dhurheri, Dasya by singing and performing dance. They start dancing and playing musical instruments after worship of Hareri. They have traditional dresses for dances. 

Maghauta dance is performed by both male and female on the occasion of Maagh festival. Barka naach means great dance and is based on the story of the Tharu version of the Mahabharat. It concentrates on the story of the five Pandava brothers, the sons of Pandu. It is the biggest and most difficult dance performed by the Tharu. It hovers around the Barkimaar which tells the story of the Mahabharat. The performance of the Barka naach is a devotional presentation.