A tradition that needs to be revived

Our project region, Mugu, consists of two areas named after their indigenous peoples: Upper Jadan and Lower Khasan. The Jad are Tibetan lamas, while the people of the southern Khasan region are descendants of migrants from northwestern India. Both groups brought important knowledge with them: The Khas were skilled in agriculture and possessed metal weapons, while the Jadan people were sheepherders. The combination of these two groups’ expertise provided a solid foundation for sustaining livelihoods in the region.

SHEEP AS THE BASIS FOR TRADE | To make it worthwhile, a family kept at least a few dozen sheep; some kept more than 100. A sheep can carry 10 to 20 kg, making it the perfect means of transport and the foundation of the Mugali’s well-organized trade. In the summer, the men traveled with sheep caravans to the border or to Tibet. The sheep carried rice, which was traded in Tibet for rock salt, which was much cheaper there. At the beginning of winter, they moved on as a whole sheep caravan to warmer regions. There, they obtained more rice in exchange for a small amount of salt, because rice was abundant in the river valleys and the people there were in desperate need of salt. In exchange for the sheep’s manure, which served as fertilizer, the farmers in the south granted them access to the harvested fields. They set up camp, let the animals graze; the men sheared sheep or worked as lumberjacks, while the women wove rugs and blankets. They sold these products right there and used the proceeds to buy what they needed to live. The children herded the sheep and played with the trained Tibetan sheepdog that accompanied every sheep caravan.

This seasonal migration took place in the same locations every year. An economic transaction evolved into a social one, giving new meaning to the exchange between people of two different religions and cultures—a meaning that was passed down from generation to generation.

THE PLANES ARE COMING, THE SHEEP MUST GO | The thriving trade came to an end in the early 2000s. The government had built an airstrip in Mugu, and starting in 2003, planes and helicopters began bringing in increasing amounts of rice, salt, and other goods. To this end, the government established the Rara National Park and designated a large part of Mugu as a nature reserve—sheep were no longer allowed to graze in the protected areas. In the 1980s, a program to protect the forests was also launched in Nepal. The local communities prohibited cattle and sheep owners from letting their animals graze in the forest. As a result, the transhumant herders lost their traditional grazing rights. Today, farmers keep only a few sheep; the herders migrate to the high mountains in the spring and bring the well-fed sheep to market in the fall.

SHEEP EMBODY AND PRESERVE TRADITION | The older generation still enjoys using locally made wool products. Sipu Rokaya, 56, from the village of Jiuka, said, “Every summer I shear my sheep to make rugs, blankets, pants, coats, and sweaters. We can’t imagine life without sheep. We are inseparably connected to them. The sheep have always provided us with salt and rice; they’ve given us clothing and meat for celebrations.”

As we make our way through the villages in Mugu, we see that almost every household keeps sheep. We see mostly men spinning wool, even while they’re out walking, chatting, or holding meetings. The traditional houses have a pair of sheep horns mounted above the door. “This has been a tradition since time immemorial. Our civilization began with sheep, and this tradition continues to this day,” explained Sipu Rokaya. Every year, when the Mugali sacrifice sheep, they place the skull with horns on the doorframe. This prevents any evil spirits from entering their home.

REFLECTION AND A NEW BEGINNING | The elders in Mugu are proud of their culture. They do not want to be dependent on others; they want to preserve their identity and dignity. But the passage of time and new developments are threatening the sheep-herding culture. Until recently, sheep from the region supplied the entire western region of Nepal with woolen clothing and meat. Now, those same sheep farmers are street vendors selling clothing from China. These same people cross the border, bringing thousands of sheep from Tibet to sell during the Dashain festival. It is high time to transform agriculture and strengthen the local culture.

That is why Back to Life supports farmers in planting fruit trees. The fertilizer for the orchards comes from the sheep. The grass growing under the trees, in turn, can be fed to the sheep. This helps restore the ecosystem in Mugu.

And here’s another positive development: Now that the shepherds no longer have to make long winter treks, the children can attend school year-round.